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Essay / Discussion on whether police should wear body cameras
Should police be held accountable for their actions? Would you like police to wear body cameras? In today's world, police officers without body cameras behave differently than those with them. The cameras are small, but they capture everything. Although some people say that police should have the right to turn the camera on or off whenever they want, police should wear body cameras because it would confirm the truth and incentivize them to use less force, which would make citizens safer. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay One of the reasons why police should wear body cameras is that body cameras would confirm the truth. If the officers were arrested for shooting someone when they did not shoot that person, the judge sees the clip and may believe the officer's statement. According to Opposing Viewpoints, the video recording told the judge the truth. One of the stories in Opposing Viewpoints involves a boy named Harrison. He was bipolar and schizophrenic, a psychiatric illness characterized by episodes of “mania.” His mother called the police to help take her son to the hospital because he was not taking his medication. When his mother opened the door, Harrison came to the door with a screwdriver in his hand. The police asked him to drop the screwdriver. Seconds after asking Harrison to drop the screwdriver, they shot him. Harrison died from his gunshot wounds. The officers wore a body camera, but they did not show it to the judge, so the judge did not know whether or not Harrison was trying to attack the officers with the screwdriver. The officers were not found guilty of shooting Harrison. The police should have been arrested. Therefore, police officers should wear body cameras because they confirm the truth. Another reason why police should wear body cameras is that body cameras would cause them to use less force. When police are monitored, their behavior changes and they become more concerned about the safety of citizens and use less force. According to Vice News, a 2015 study showed that complaints in San Diego dropped 40 percent and use of force dropped 46.5 percent when police began wearing body cameras. This suggests that body cameras help monitor what police do and how they act. Instead of acting with force, the police were more peaceful. Likewise, the study also found that in Rialto, California, complaints decreased by 88 percent and use of force dropped by 60 percent when police began wearing body cameras. According to Vice News, in Rialto and San Diego, the use of force has decreased. Having police wear body cameras can reduce the number of complaints and significantly decrease the level of force. Police should wear body cameras because it will allow them to use less force. On the other hand, some people say the police should have the right to turn the camera on or off whenever they want. This view makes sense because if a police officer goes to someone's home to announce that a family member has died, they can turn off the information because that information is reserved for the family. Additionally, the police should have the right to turn the camera on or off whenever they want, due to their privacy. Would you like someone to watch your every move? Nevertheless,.?