Body Cams for Police Protect All
One of the hot, technological trends in law enforcement these days is provisioning officers with body cameras. Supporters and critics of police departments across the country are calling for the body cams as a way to obtain objective records of police interactions with the general public, in much the same way dashboard cameras record traffic stops, and as a way to protect both police officers and the public.
Civil rights organizations and police associations are increasingly finding themselves on the same page when it comes to body cams: They’re good for the public, and they’re good for the cops.
Last month, the Justice Department released the list of the 73 municipalities across the country that would be receiving grants. Five Virginia localities were on the list and will receive more than half a million dollars; Lynchburg was one and is set to get $205,000.
The grant requires a $213,000 match from the city, which City Council will consider at its Oct. 27 meeting. If approved, the Lynchburg Police Department would be able to purchase 175 camera systems and pay for data storage fees over the course of the two-year program. That’s enough to cover every officer in the LPD.
But before any cameras can be purchased and put into the field, there are a myriad of policy questions City Council will have to address.
Will the cameras be operational for an officer’s full shift? If so, how will interactions with confidential informants be handled? And what about domestic calls that may not result in charges but in which a victim’s privacy is paramount? How long will the video be retained on police servers? A month, a year, in perpetuity? And how will the Freedom of Information Act deal with public and media requests for video?
In announcing the Virginia grants, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine had this to say: “The use of body cameras is an approach that can continue to build positive relationships between police and the communities they bravely serve. By investing in these tools, we can also improve transparency and ensure families and law enforcement in the commonwealth remain safe.”
Lynchburg Vice Mayor Ceasor Johnson echoed Kaine’s sentiments in comments in The News & Advance. “This is just another advancement of technology in the workplace. It’s going to be just like putting the badge on your uniform,” he said, adding, “It’s going to tell the story of what’s really going on in our community. And that’s what we want.”
Ultimately, body cameras are as much of a benefit to law enforcement officers as they are to the general public.
Police officers in America are dedicated, hard-working, trustworthy men and women who put their lives on the line each day. But in this day of 24/7 cable TV news, the Internet, YouTube and social media, it only takes a single bad encounter to sully the reputation of an entire institution, as we’ve seen in the last couple of years.
Body camera technology, when properly implemented, can only strengthen the trust between a community and those who protect and serve. And we’re proud Lynchburg has the chance to lead the way.
