Minooka, IL — The Minooka Police Department decided that the benefits from police body cameras do not outweigh the inconvenient administrative work associated with their use. They have halted the department use of body cameras after only six months.
In 2013, a high-profile study of the use of police body cameras in Rialto California showed their use to be nothing short of stunning. After body cameras had been implemented, the department saw a 60% reduction in use of force instances and an 88% reduction in officer complaints.
After the highly controversial murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014, the topic of police body cameras became part of the national discussion. Departments across the country began adopting the beneficial technology.
However, since then, we’ve seen case after case of individual officers conveniently turning off their body camerasbefore acting violently or criminally. Also, as was the case in Fresno, California last month, police officers are undeterred about their murderous actions being caught on film.
However, since then, we’ve seen case after case of individual officers conveniently turning off their body camerasbefore acting violently or criminally. Also, as was the case in Fresno, California last month, police officers are undeterred about their murderous actions being caught on film.
All the flaws aside, however, body cameras are far better at providing a transparent account of police behavior than reports that can be fudged, as well as citizen complaints. Society, as a whole, benefits from knowing how their armed state agents perform when ‘serving’ the public.
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