Newsweek: Study Finds Body Cameras Decrease Police’s Use of Force

The good cops will use them as they were intended. The bad cops will always find a work-around.

In Modesto Calif., it seems as though the police can use their "discretion" in having the cameras on or off.

Considering the problem facing us is an indiscreet use of violence it has already been demonstrated it's their "discretion" that is the issue.

It is good the cameras exist in many departments across the USA - but we need to have laws that ensure the cameras are always on.

Ostensibly to let the populace know that any untoward acts will be captured and the evidence therein used against them. That TPTB decline to live under the same expectations they assert over the rest of us, I think, speaks volumes. In legal terms, taking actions to prevent leaving evidence of one's misdeeds is called "consciousness of guilt."

The study described in the article indicates significant caveats and reservations admitted by the researchers, did not discuss how Rialto, California was in any way representative of other jurisdictions such NYC or LA, and noted significant DOJ concerns about constitutional and legal matters like privacy that could stymie continued widespread use of police body cameras. The study also indicated that the diminished use of force could actually be attributed to the public modifying its behavior because they were being filmed, i.e., suspects were less violent due to the cameras thereby necessitating less justified police force.

It should be additionally remembered that the public is still extremely sympathetic to the police, and even in matters like Eric Garner, where the entire incident was clearly filmed and publicized, the grand jury still refused to indict.

The proverbial jury is still out on police body cameras. However, I believe the experiment should continue cautiously and methodically.

I not sure by what you mean you state, "They exit, not as an entity in their own right but with our permission and at our pleasure." Are you suggesting we should consider eliminating the police, that they do not have all the rights and legal protections provided to virtually all other public employees, or that a sufficient majority of American citizen actually supports some major overhaul of the very nature, type and extent of policing in the country?

Typo, now edited.

"They EXIST..."

I doubt that this bill has a chance but it is a good idea http://www.fortbendstar.com/2014/12/18/rep-reynolds-writes-body-camera-bill-2/

than the use of force by cops. It seems like there was a positive impact on the citizens as well.

And yes, it may not work out this well in every city and there are some serious privacy issues, and having video/audio didn't help prosecute the cops in the Gardner case, but it seems overall like they are a really positive influence on behavior.