Police Brutality Statistics In The United States Fell By 60 Percent When Cops Wear Video Cameras

[damnedifIknow]

Police brutality statistics apparently fell by 60 percent in one California town when all police officers were required to wear portable video cameras while on the job.

In a related report by The Inquisitr, a video of a CHP officer punching a fallen woman 11 times in the face went viral after it was filmed by a passing driver. But another video was even worse since it showed Albuquerque police shooting two suspects in the back, never mind when a homeless man was shot in the back.

The city of Rialto, California did a controlled study where the city’s 70 police officers were required to wear a video camera that recorded all of their interactions with the public. In 2012 alone complaints against Rialto police officers fell by 88 percent, while use of force by officers fell by almost 60 percent."


* Of course, one huge negative to outfitting every cop with a camera is public privacy concerns. But even the American Civil Liberties Union, which is usually quick to protest anything that might infringe upon personal privacy, says that the notable drop in police brutality statistics is worth it:

“Although we generally take a dim view of the proliferation of surveillance cameras in American life, police on-body cameras are different because of their potential to serve as a check against the abuse of power by police officers.”

http://www.inquisitr.com/1337944/police-brutality-statistics-in-the-united-states-fell-by-60-percent-when-cops-wear-video-cameras/

[MineralMan]

1. You'd think that police officers would be aware by now

that everyone is carrying a high-definition television camera these days. If they're not aware of that, someone should be telling them every day during the roll-call meeting for every shift. We could combine famous lines from two popular television shows to create the message they need to hear, from Sgt. Esterhaus and Alan Funt:

"Let's be careful out there. You're on Candid Camera."

[littlemissmartypants]

3. Thinking happens in many centers of the brain on many levels.

I say require tests and programs in mental exercises like formal cognitive operations, outcome prediction and cause/effect relationships.

Require baseline fMRI exams. Sociopaths can present with prefrontal cortex abnormalities for example.

Have that be a part of the job requirements.

Thinking assessment. Pre and Post test and fitness based on that combined with physical fitness, mental health assessment.

Here we are stuck in the mire of a failing system with unfit people trying to do more with too little. On both ends of the spectrum. There is going to be a tipping point and captain "she's gonna blow."

Thanks for your post, MineralMan.
Thanks, Uncle Joe, for directing me here.
Reference posts:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025362656#post2
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025362656


Love, Peace and Shelter.
littlemissmartypants

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. How much further would it fall if these obscene violations of the public trust were prosecuted? nt