Imagine if cops had to wear cameras where the video is streamed to a public database. How would they act with an unblinking and unbiased witness forever leaving them open to the people’s scrutiny?
Here’s my prediction: there would be less abuse of power. Police misconduct happens when they know they can get away with it. But under and ever-present eye to watch them, they’ll find it much harder to abuse the authority they’ve been entrusted with.
See, the key to freedom and equality is to keep our leaders, the government and it’s hired muscle afraid of us, and not the other way around. So, sure, the cops will gripe about this. But it’s not about what they want, its about what we want.
Already in several cities, like Oakland, police are forced to wear chest mounted cameras. But the problem with these devices, much like the ones in patrol cars, is that they are still under internal control. Cameras can be turned off. Footage can go missing. So the door to misconduct hasn’t been shut. This should be unacceptable for anyone living off of our taxpayer dollars.
In fact, we should consider extending this mandatory camera program to include any public servant. Politicians, soldiers, government agents – they should all be monitored and held accountable to the citizens they serve.
If we make this happen, it could help safeguard us from the threat of a police state, prevent further human rights violations, and even stand as a cornerstone of a more democratic and just world.
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For more ideas about keeping police brutality in check, try the Cameras on Cops Facebook page
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