Should All Police Officers Wear Body Cameras

Last week #ConfabNE asked New Englanders if all police departments should exist required to equip officers with torso cameras while they are on duty.

Following weeks of demonstrations, rallies and marches across the state protesting the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota, a petition calling for constabulary in New Bedford, Massachusetts to wearable torso cameras received more than ten,000 signatures.

Citing information from the National Institute of Justice, the petition points out the use of body cameras has been shown to drastically decrease constabulary brutality, promote transparency and accountability in the department, appraise accuracy of the nature of events articulated past officers and community members and improve community relationships with law enforcement.

We asked if all constabulary officers should be required to use body cameras and what other steps should police force departments be taking to promote transparency, accountability and improve community relations?

Hither's what yous said.

Yes, they should wear cameras to protect them and the public from incorrect accusations either mode.

Donna Lydon

Barnstable, Mass.

Yes, all officers should exist required to use body cameras while on duty. Accountability in any job is important, simply specially one funded by the public and whose responsibility it is to uphold the constabulary. Having data that shows it reduces law brutality makes me wonder why departments would be against information technology. Transparency of an incident from outset to stop for the public and the officers on duty seems like a win-win.

Dawn Molignano Waters

Hanson, Mass.

Yes, they should. If they are doing their task it shouldn't be a problem in proving they are doing correct by united states of america.

Lesly Smith

Brockton, NH

The brazen and unlawful assault of innocent civilians that takes identify every day volition non exist deterred with body cams.

Jack Shedford

Boston, Mass.

Torso cameras are a deterrent to unprofessional beliefs.

Zelma Braga

Fall River, Mass.

No. Police force departments demand more than funding for better training and higher budgets and salaries and so they are not and so overwhelmed and overworked.

Olivia King

Westford, Mass.

Yeah. Police should get out of their cars and get to know the public they are policing. Too, officers should police the same areas and so public gets to trust him or her.

Gwen Fuhs

New Bedford, Mass.

At the bare minimum they should article of clothing body cams. They bargain with vulnerable population and therefore should receive more training. Defunding the police and putting that coin towards educational activity and social services would exist better for the community than ownership body cams.

Elizabeth Rice

Portsmouth, NH

Yes, it protects everyone, law officers likewise. We need to encourage police officers to question each other's approach too. Too often, some officers will stand up past and not question another officer'south authority. If they see something wrong being done, they should address information technology correct away. If only ane of the other officers said "hey he can't breathe, that'due south plenty," George Floyd would be live. It has to be okay to question a more than senior officer.

Kelly Keaney

Marblehead, Mass.

Yes. Invest in more than community policing, preparation for officers in variety and implicit bias training, more interaction with at-chance youth early as mentors.

Kathy Sullivan

Warren, RI

Yes. They will concord both officers and citizens accountable for their actions. Many wrongfully accused officers accept been cleared by photographic camera footage. Officers caught brutalizing suspects can be dealt with swiftly and fairly. Cameras should remain on from commencement to end of shift. Remove it if y'all need to employ the facilities.

Steve Durfee

E Providence , RI

Yes, I believe that they should. It will make aggressive police officers think twice and protect officers that are unfairly accused. Recruitment practices accept to be improved and while I am an abet of unions they should not be immune to protect unfit officers.

Jean Athaide

New Bedford, Mass.

Admittedly. In my years of criminal defence practice, I accept lost count of the number of injuries sustained by my clients in law custody. Were some self- inflicted? Were some the upshot of resisting and police force attempts at arrest/custody? Were some caused past overzealous rookies or jaded long term officers? Were some outright abusive intentional acts of violence on civilian suspects and witnesses? Body cams would tell the story. In all my years in criminal defense practice, I've lost count of the times officers accept "forgotten" or " failed" to remember essential witness, suspect statements, descriptions, locations or other relevant case information or evidence. Body cams would capture so much more than the mere mortal mind could retain and remember.

Rene Chocolate-brown

Fall River, Mass.

Yes. All of us must be willing to exist answerable for our actions. Defund SWAT police and move the coin to police accountability and social services to provide service to those with mental wellness bug.

Jane Haist

Cape Cod , Mass.

Yes. Officers who plough information technology off should be suspended, and all departments should be required to enter police officer misconduct in a state and national database. Teachers who are guilty of misconduct lose their certification and can't simply move to some other town and teach there. Besides, grooming of officers must focus on breaking downwardly the conventionalities that it's united states against them, and they must support some other officer regardless of the beliefs. The electric current culture smears the ninety pct of police officers who aren't abusive.

Arthur Muldowney

Killingworth, Conn.

I strongly believe that in club for this torso cam program to work efficiently, the wearer must not be able to manipulate the usage of such, including access to turning the photographic camera on or off. It should exist turned on at beginning of shift by watch commander, and returned at cease of tour, to be close off and secured each day.

Craig Morris

Brewster, Mass.

Absolutely, if the police tin can't be trusted to weed out the "bad apples" and the good cops "constabulary themselves" then yes. Video doesn't lie.

Charles Fortier

East Bridgewater, Mass.

Yes, admittedly. Have an outside company that monitors constabulary interactions with people through the use of the cameras.

Jovino Baptista

Brockton, NH

They should always have body cams on while on duty. There should as well exist penalty/consequences to turning off a body cam while on duty. The police departments should also dedicate routine grooming days yearly to conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques. Departments should also take routine lessons in bigotry and racial history of their counties.

Lisa Nault

Quincy, Mass.

Yes. Tracking of stops, utilise of strength, arrests by race, to show off-white treatment.

Doug Play a joke on

Needham, Mass.

Absolutely. Police should also have constant mental health grooming, a civilian oversight board and we should stop giving police militarized weapons.

Josie Stoner

Somerville, Mass.

Yes. Also mandatory de-escalation and anti-bias training, and requiring reporting of all uses of strength.

Erica Business firm

Maynard, Mass.

Yeah, on cameras to protect citizens and officers. I also feel that counselor should be mandatory on a weekly bases; mental wellness is important for all. Any and all preparation should be available to all officers at no accuse to them. Instead of defunding there needs to exist more than funding.

Ana Mellow

Ipswich, Mass.

Yes. In today's society this has go necessary.

Dave Lord

Marblehead, Mass.

I believe they should be required to wear body cameras. Outset, information technology promotes transparency and allows for public accountability. Secondly, it helps to identify "bad actors" and to ensure that every department can uphold their delivery to justice as intended. Third, information technology also protects the law as they tin can't be wrongfully accused of something if at that place's footage. More than open forums, dialogue, and events can help facilitate meliorate customs relations.

Nicole Nichols

Belmont, Mass.

Yes, information technology shows what the details are in all situations. My nephew is a cop in FL and wears one and information technology really opens your optics when you see the video.

Terri MacIntyre

Windham, NH

Yes. It protects not only the public but the police. Sometimes it'southward a matter of he said she said and an effort to eliminate false accusations and misconduct by both police enforcement and the public this will be a checks and rest arrangement. It will likewise be useful as it can be used equally evidence if there are charges filed or a criminal offence.

Anne Rykowski

Norwich, Conn.

Yep, information technology will protect both the constabulary officeholder and the people involved. Everyone involved can benefit by police using a body photographic camera.

Deborah Farias

Fall River, Mass.

Yeah. It would go a long manner in increasing transparency and protecting both the public and the police.

Jackson Tingle

Danvers, Mass.

Yes. Police officers should also be required to attend mandatory counseling and continuing education courses that educate on dismantling institutional racism. They should besides be subject to peer and community evaluation. Prior to being a full officer, a minimum of 1,000 hours preparation should be required with annual re-licensing protocol. Traffic functions for speeding and parking should be shifted to another municipal department, safety patrols another department, and criminal complaints/investigations retained as a police office. Ongoing Swat/ERT preparation should be provided for certain fire and constabulary officers. Pay for officers should increase, every bit should the number of officers of color. Officers should be placed on leave post-obit a complaint of racism or brutality or post-obit review of body cam footage that breaks protocol. Officers should accept two strikes before termination. Unions should exist limited in their protections.

Sarah Smith

Hampton, NH

Aye. How is this however even optional? There should exist penalties for a cop not having camera rolling before duty.

David Dawes

Newport, RI

Yes. As well for the protection of the officeholder.

Dianne Perry

Ipswich, Mass.

Body cameras would exist a good way to protect law as well every bit citizens.

Sandra Cantankerous

Marblehead, Mass.

No. Only worry near cities that have known problems.

Dan MacDonald

Ipswich, Mass.

Yes, all cops demand to have body cameras on. Shutting them off needs to be a fireable offense. But that'south non enough. Nosotros already accept tons of footage of cops killing unarmed civilians and information technology hasn't helped anything. Police force forces need to be demilitarized, funding needs to get into other areas of social need and when are we going to address the fact that at least twoscore per centum of police families live with domestic violence?

Colleen Meade

Boston, Mass.

Yep. Information technology will protect both sides from anyone lying and maxim they did something that tin hands be proved that they didn't. Information technology will keep people on both sides from losing control as much if they know they are being watched. As well, it'due south like shooting fish in a barrel to misremember details in the heat of the moment, they will provide concrete proof of what was said and done.

Roxanne Raymond

Wareham, Mass.

Yes, they should. It should be considered felony tampering with testify if they close them off. Police that accept committed offenses against citizens should exist fired, blacklisted from ever being rehired as constabulary, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of their crime and for breaching the public trust and tarnishing the reputation of the police.

James Morrissette

Somersworth, NH

Yes, they should exist required to wear body cameras. They should also exercise away with qualified amnesty and encourage more robust data collection and sharing.

Amy Sloan

Cranston, RI

Aye, as it gives show to what happened instead of "he said, she said."

Jenna Thomson

Dover, NH

Yes. We accept many who recall they can do what they want and lie to protect themselves. They all demand a class in racial matters. They should not be to a higher place the law and should sign a argument every time when on duty that they are aware of several critical laws of race, excessive force and intervene when other officers break the law.

Roberta Dixon

Dover NH

Aye, torso cameras should be worn because police force accept demonstrated that they will lie to protect themselves and fellow officers from consequences of misconduct. The behavior is so prevalent that it has a name - the sparse bluish line. Even in the most recent videotaped encounter where an elderly homo was pushed to the basis, police lied and said he tripped. Body cameras - without the ability to turn them off - are necessary to hold police accountable for the racism and brutality often shown by cops to those perceived as marginalized or vulnerable

Judith Wiseman

Barnstable, Mass.

Yes. And if they are brought up on criminal or disciplinary charges, the cost of litigating or processing those charges should be taken from their pensions.

Christine Bennett

Eliot, Maine

Yep, all police officers should be required to use body cameras while on duty. I likewise think the demilitarization of police departments should be required. Studies testify that militarized departments correlate directly to increased police violence. I think the all-time resolution to reducing police violence, though, is examining the broad range of roles that we ask constabulary officers to play (detectives, social workers, school disciplinarians, medical emergency responders) and dent downwardly these responsibilities. For example, we don't demand cops in schools — instead, we need people trained explicitly to bargain with teen psychology, substance abuse, and de-escalation. We demand programs that foreclose kids from engaging in criminal behavior in the starting time place. Once we've scaled back the responsibilities of the constabulary to, for case, traffic violation, responding to interruption-ins, and crowd command, we tin can shift funds traditionally directed toward police force departments to lamentatory up social and educational programming.

Michaela Morris

Seabrook, NH

I think every police officer on duty in the entire country should have been ordered to wear body cameras. The feds should have causeless the costs of said equipment as it basically stops all police brutality and dishonesty in its tracks. Think of the arrests averages that would driblet, the freer flowing court systems, and permit's face it the number of lives that could take been saved, merely ultimately were not, considering the police force do not similar being policed.

Todd Mason

Randolph, Mass.

Yes. Simply it needs to be combined with more than funding for periodic de-escalation grooming, community recruitment and scholarships. They should likewise exist required to do customs outreach once a twelvemonth, working side by side with the community they serve and assist clean up or improve an area they patrol.

Charity Sanders

Glocester, RI

Yeah, but just if the videos tin can be used in court to bolster either parties' case, including the police — not just to exist used against the police, similar information technology is at present.

CJ Murphy

Hanover, Mass.

Yes. We demand independent civilian review boards that have the power to agree officers accountable. Firearms should require insurance like cars practice for police and civilians. Standards and pay for officers should be high. Eliminate details and raise pay. Officers must have a use of force continuum and rules of appointment. Departments should represent their communities. Violence, abuse, rape, murder should not be acceptable within and department.

Justin Moeling

Somerville, Mass.

Absolutely. Police should have torso cameras to protect themselves and the citizens they protect. De-escalation training should be required for all officers. Police should be required to denote when they are going to shoot, and should also frazzle all alternative before firing at a civilian.

Charles Staff

Billerica, Mass.

Yeah, they should exist required to wear them while on duty. Their social media should be monitored. Any who are involved in abusive acts or roofing up should exist dismissed. Make sure police unions are more on the side of what is right instead of on the side of abusive law enforcement.

Billie McGregor

Salem, Mass.

Yes. There also needs to exist independent civilian review boards among other reforms.

Shirley Traite

Waltham, Mass.

Yes. All law should habiliment body cameras and they have to stay on at all times. It should be a requirement nationwide. Information technology protects both the officers and the noncombatant.

Sanon Danier

Avon, Mass.

Yes. This prompts safety for both the community and the law officers.

Debbie Rowland

Billerica, Mass.

Aye. They should as well be screened for bias and mental health problems regularly.

Ryann Dark-brown

Gardner, Mass.

Yes. Trust is gone. When laws that employ to citizens practice non apply to officers there will always be abuse. It's a one way street, the public is supposed to know and understand how to properly interact with officers, merely the public is not supposed to know how the police force should collaborate with citizens. The public is not privy near the inner workings (laws, unions, etc., etc.) of the police. Police shouldn't provoke fearfulness, but that's what being kept in the dark does. Beingness governed by fear does non produce a salubrious social club.

Nancy Wentworth

Milford, Mass.

Yes, all officers should use body cameras while on duty. Too, end absolute veterans preference on civil service exams. The constabulary would accept a civilian background rather than a military background. Increase didactics requirements and affirmative activeness.

Michael LaJoie

Brockton, Mass.

Aye. Following the 8cantwait.org guidelines on suggested policy reform, well defined use of forcefulness policies can also help prevent unnecessary injury and impairment to civilians when interacting with law enforcement while allowing reasonable exceptions for officers to still be able to perform their duties. Also shifting funding towards social workers, counselors, mental health, pedagogy - and away from law enforcement militarization - tin as well go a long style to solving a lot of societal issues at their root cause, versus relying solely on police officers to deal with some of these problems as start responders.

Cate Brownish

North Kingstown, RI

Yes, they should be required to wear body cameras, not just considering of police brutality simply because of racial profiling. My children have witnessed police force profiling a blackness human and were afraid to complain because it would be their give-and-take against the constabulary. Body cameras would certificate even the smallest infractions.

Monica Brady-Myerov

Chestnut Loma, Mass.

Yep. I do non know specifically what types of continuing training the police in my town receive, so the following is not specifically directed at them. I believe the militarization of police should end. No armed forces style preparation should be allowed period. Choke holds/carotid pressure should be banned. There should be a national database of officers released due to brutality or convicted of such acts and then they are never hired once again anywhere as police officers. They demand to be removed for our protection and the protection of the majority of law who are not like them. Nosotros need to get dorsum to Customs Policing.

Susan Gates

Chelmsford, Mass.

Yes, absolutely this should be the new standard operating procedures. Such body-worn cameras should also be turned on immediately when officers answer to a law call.

Darren Orloff

Concord, Mass.

Aye. We need to reassess qualified amnesty as it applies to police officers.

Joe Kelly

Georgetown, Mass.

Yes. It protects the officer and person in question. The arrestee can't make up lies virtually the police force officer and the officer volition exist held responsible for whatsoever wrong doings

Crystal Colson

Tewksbury, Mass.

Aye. Cameras should be worn. Also, accusations of unnecessary restraint need to be investigated and officers should be held immediately accountable...fired, and charged. There needs to be a national registry so that this kind of evil cannot be employed someplace else one time information technology is discovered. Police force unions tin no longer protect this policy that has allowed systemic racism in law enforcement.

Lisa Boucher

Middleton, Mass.

Yes. Outfit all on-duty police officers with a trunk-worn photographic camera and require that the torso-worn photographic camera exist turned on immediately when officers respond to a law phone call. They should also employ evidence-based constabulary de-escalation trainings.

Elizabeth Stokely

Waltham, Mass.

#ConfabNE is a conversation that publishes in 15 Gannett New England newspapers in five states: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut and Rhode Isle. Join the conversation.

This calendar week's question

Two to three months after closing their dining rooms to customers, restaurants across New England have begun to welcome diners dorsum for more but takeout.

After months of staying and eating at home during the coronavirus pandemic, many diners are hungry to eat out at a favorite restaurant once again; others may still be chewing on the risk.

Do you feel safe dining at restaurants again nether your country's reopening guidelines? Why or why not? What other measures should be taken to brand customers feel comfortable eating out?

Please fill out and submit our online #ConfabNE class or e-mail your answers to Alice Coyle at neopinion@gatehousemedia.com. Expect for responses online on June 25.

Source: https://www.telegram.com/story/opinion/2020/06/18/confabne-should-all-police-officers-be-required-to-use-body-cameras-while-on-duty-heres-what-you-sai/113955340/

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