Will at least help reduce officer misconduct if nothing else

Dec 17, 2014 12:40 GMT  ·  By

Policemen don't really need cameras to do their jobs. Indeed, other than their batons and sidearms, they don't really need anything else in order to keep the peace, in theory. However, that doesn't account for the potential of cop misconduct.

The police from Los Angeles, LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department), may not have the worst reputation in the world, but it doesn't have the best either.

In fact, US citizens appear to have a dim view of police officers in general. Public outcry against this or that cop, and even lawsuits, show up in the news at least once a week.

At some point, cops turned from peacekeepers into scapegoats. Possibly because popular media involving them has been including corrupted officers and even department heads. This may have skewed public perception.

Whatever the case, police officers don't have the same aura of trustworthiness anymore, at least in the USA. People are more wary of them instead.

The LAPD is taking drastic measures

Perhaps wearing a body camera isn't exactly a “drastic” measure, but it is pretty radical. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti himself admitted that they wouldn't cure all problems.

However, citizens have asked for transparency on all levels, according to him. Especially “communities of color,” in the words of Councilmember Curren Price.

The cameras will become a critical part of the formula that will at once heal public opinion and allow officers to work in peace.

After all, while it's true that wearing the camera will act as a deterrent against misconduct, it will also provide incontrovertible evidence to support or deny accusations aimed at them by citizens.

For now, Los Angeles is purchasing 7,000 body cameras, which is a huge leap from the now ended pilot program from New York, which was limited to 54 officers. The money came from private donations.

The stages of the program

First, the LAPD will get 800 Taser Axon cameras, for the high crime areas. These video recording cameras can be clipped on a chest pocket (among other places) and have 130-degree wide-angle lenses, 12-hour batteries and even low light recording, which you could say is one of the most important elements.

The rest of the cameras (possibly exceeding the 7,000 mark) will be acquired over the course of next year, 2015.

"Out on the street, things aren't always clear cut. These cameras will help law enforcement and the public alike find the truth -- and truth is essential to the trust between the LAPD and the community, which has been a key factor in lowering crime to record lows," Mayor Garcetti said. "I want to make sure LAPD is on the cutting edge when it comes to crime suppression and constitutional policing."

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Taser Axon Body Camera (5 Images)

Taser Axon camera on officer uniform
Taser Axon cameraTaser Axon, vertical side view
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