Body cameras on cops . . . . good idea or a visit to the land of unintended consequences?

[Stinky The Clown]

On the local tv news tonight, Baltimore mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake was discussing cops with body cameras. On balance, she favors them, but brought up some food for thought.

If they are official gear for cops, then anything they record is public domain. Broadly, the police and the populace benefit from their presence.

But what about, let's say, a domestic violence call? Let's say the police enter a home. Let's say the occupants - and especially the victims - are in various states of undress, or just in undignified circumstances? Is it fair that they become part of the public domain? Can they have any expectation of privacy in their own home? Not worried about the perp, although they have rights, too, but the victims. Especially the victims.

Anyway, just some food for thought.

[Agschmid]

1. Overall good idea.

Clearly implementation would need to be regulated somehow... And that's where a good idea goes bad.

[CreekDog]

2. I think right now the intended consequences are the problem

more of a problem than unintended consequences.

[951-Riverside]

3. Without accountability it means nothing.

And the unintended consequences is people will be less inclined to talk to cops because of the camera in their face and cops are going to become much colder and robotic out of fear that their bosses could use archived footage as leverage to kick them off the force if they don't go along with the program (usually the bosses are the most corrupt and vicious).

OTOH when a cop is doing something really bad he'll just not turn on the camera or make sure the battery doesnt get charged.

Body cameras are not an end all solution when it comes to police brutality. If the Kelly Thomas murder didnt wake people up I don't know what will.

[madinmaryland]

4. Well, I would then ask, would the police be a bit more reserved with what they

do? If they are busting into people's homes or apartments knowing they (being the cops) are on tape, will they be a bit more concerned about the rights of citizens?

This is an interesting question you bring up, Stinky. Not sure exactly how it should be handled.

BTW, We no longer live in Maryland, as a job called and I moved to southwest Ohio. Yes, Yes it did.