It’s great that the Wichita Police Department finally has video cameras in patrol cars. Unfortunately, the cameras are only in eight cars as part of a yearlong pilot project. Still, it’s an important start.
Though cameras can’t catch everything, the footage can be effective in helping resolve some “he said, she said” situations, including allegations of racial profiling. Civilians and officers also tend to behave better when they know they’re being filmed.
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11 Comments
It’s about time…I think the cameras will do a lot to stop abusive behavior on the part of police. I think some join the force just so they can feel powerful and push people around.
y’know,…I have heard comments like that from the rabble Sunflower group and online…but if it were all that common, wouldn’t there be lawsuits on a daily basis against the police? It is very common for arrested criminals to claim abuse/brutality/etc., but how many claims/lawsuits have there really been?
Mary though it can be true of some they do generally get weeded out in short order. But the cameras will do more to end unfounded claims by people of Police abuse. A cop is ever mind-full of the fact that their every action can and will be judged in the cold, clear light of day instead of the moment facts and environment of when it happens.
I was only once accused of excessive force by a suspect and still remember the words of Judge Watson:
“Mr. Cook, I look at you and then look at the deputy and as big as he is. If he wanted to put the hurt on you he could have. I see no burses or broken bones, so I think he did exactly what he said he did.
He sat your ass down because you were too stupid to listen!”. (God rest your soul Judge Watson)
The cameras will help in many aspects but yes it will help to weed out those whom had the mistaken impression that somehow having a badge and gun gives them a license to act like a bully. But as I said it will do more to stop pointless actuations and aid in plead bargaining.
I’ve never seen (except on television) a cop abuse a citizen.
Where I think the video cameras will help is demonstrating what dirt bags people can be when they get approached by police officers. Or what smart -azz and potty mouths they get when questioned.
Lots of people will be on those cop TV series, showing what jerks they really are.
Excellent. I wish there were more.
My only reservation – and I’ve seen this happen – is for attorneys, judges, and cops to understand that those cameras are one-eyed monsters. Depending on the circumstances, they can destroy perspective and context. Remember, most of the world is not in the view of the camera; because it didn’t happen “on camera” does not mean it did not happen. They can distort as well as reveal.
With that caveat, a welcome addition to the tools of law enforcement; especially dealing with drunk drivers. There is little that ends a DUI defense quicker than a good roadside video!
“here is little that ends a DUI defense quicker than a good roadside video!”
So true, GMC, so true.
Yeah Regular I still find myself longing to be back under the pin but watching COPS often makes me wonder why? I had dealt with my share of unreasonable, drunk or plain stupid people. COPS does show that side of Police work. But then all I have to do to remind me of why I wanted to be in Law Enforcement and the real reason I wish I was still in it. Is to remember the night I pull in behind a stalled car on a darken
side road. And being greeted by teary eyes, scared mother and Daughter who’s car had broken down and they were waiting for the husband whom after he would get off from work, Would be coming down the same road. They had been scared by the sudden appearance of three people whom knocked on the windows and it scared them so bad they could not understand what the three was saying. LOL they ran up to me when I got out and hugged me! I took them home and they discovered that the husband had gotten off early and was already home waiting on them.
Later I noticed another car setting on the side of the highway I pull in behind it only to discover three people whom had a blow out and no spare tire. It turned out they were the ones whom had approached the mother and daughter. Which had broken down just a mile away from them. I took them back into town and then arranged for them a ride back to the town they were from.
I wish COPS showed that part of being a cop more, it would help the citizens to know that enforcing the law is not the only things a LEO does. And it would remind LEO why they so love the job.
The cameras may keep both LE and suspects more honest and accountable. I think honest LE need the protection and strongly believe there are LE who need to be held accountable for their actions.
Big Brother has cameras going up all over the place, why not cop cars?
Better not spank your child outdoors, you could be thrown in jail if caught on camera.
If your neighbors dog runs into your yard and bites your child, you better make sure the dogbite was on video, as well as the video of you kicking the neighbors dog in defense.
And you should hope that camera that caught you swerving over the yellow line, also caught a photo of the kitty kat in the road, which caused you to swerve.
And God forbid you not see that kitty kat and the video catches you crushing the kitty kat with your 4WD SUV.
This would be a good cop video:
Cops: Drunk Driver Ends Police Chase by Running Over Himself
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,457719,00.html
How true GMC, I was told of a perfect example of how a single prospective does not tell the whole story.
The security of St. Francis was escorting a mental patent to the floor when he suddenly started choking one of the guards. The fight was on and the only way they were winning was to put the patent in the “standard Police restrain hold” they made him dance the chicken. The elevator doors suddenly opened up and two nuns got on the elevator. They stood quietly in a corner as if nothing was happening then one tapped the guard telling me about the incident on the shoulder. They were still actively restraining the patent and she asked “Son do you really have to treat that man so badly?”.