Body Camera Rule: How do you stop a policeman from turning off a camera?

 

My suggestion for the laws around body camera use is that body cameras should be enforced by law.  If the officer turns off his camera, then his testimony is discounted versus other witnesses.  That should be the law; turn off the camera, then you are treated as suspect. 

Body cameras should also have a log of when the device is turned off, turned on, and complete GPS location for the entire shift.  The more data the better.

Chokeholds: Let UFC fighters train police on proper technique

I am horrified by Eric Garner's death, it's tragic and it's not fair to the victim. But it's also unfair to police to ask them to subdue a giant man without the proper skills.   Police are ordered to execute their function on our behalf so we need to make sure they have the proper training not just oversimplified rules.

The best people to train police are the mixed martial artists. They know how to do it professionally.  UFC fighters should offer to train police on the proper technique rather than some idyllic "thou shalt not" choke an individual guideline that doesn't help in the real world.

Race Justice or Rich Justice?

Eric Garner: Killed (not murder since it was unintentional?) for being too big to subdue and choked to death (accidentally) for trying to sell loose cigarettes without paying tax. A crime amounting to a few dollars.	OJ Simpson: Acquitted of murder for premeditated double knife murder of his ex-spouse and her friend. Lost civil case and owed victim's families. Won his freedom using his money to beat the rap. A crime that was worth millions in costs and legal fees.

So my questions are: are all black people treated equally? Is race the real issue here? And shouldn't poor black people be just as upset at how rich black people are treated? Are rich people happy that the problem turns into race relations rather than rich versus poor? Are we doing anyone any favours by ignoring the justice inequality?  

Pre-game show to Ferguson decision amped up rioter's; media is culpable?

What other American past-time has hours upon hours of lead up marketing until final kick-off of festivities?  Simple, the NFL's Superbowl.

Before the Superbowl there is a pre-game show defined as:

A pre-game show or pregame show is a TV or radio presentation that occurs immediately before the live broadcast of a major sporting event. Contents may include:

• replayed highlights of each teams previous games.
• analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each team by sports commentators.
• interviews with fans and coaches from each team.

Due to the prolonged timeframe between the announcement and the kick-off of the grand jury announcement, there was 8 hours of pre-game show marketing and heightening of hysteria - just like the football game.

What did the media do when they found out the grand jury had a decision on the Darren Wilson indictment?  When the decision was delayed, it turned into hours upon hours of an ever-increasing stream of innuendo and replays that heighten the emotions and expectation of the people. The fervor grew higher as the time passed.

So what did the media expect when the riot kicked off? 

Equip all police officers with cameras

People act differently when a camera is on them or on their actions.  It's called the Hawthorne Effect. People modify their behavior under inspection. It makes them, in general, act better.

This has now been shown to reduce incidents of violence; http://phys.org/news/2014-12-scientific-police-body-worn-cameras-unacceptable-use-of-force.html

Let's reduce the confusion and reduce the leeway police have to act inappropriately by making them wear a camera during their shift.  It helps for evidence.  Anyone who attacks a police officer knows it. The evidence cuts both ways - it can justify good behavior and incriminate bad behavior.  That is fair to all. It won't eliminate confusion but it will shed more light on what went on.

How much have the Ferguson riots damaged the economy?  How much would the cameras be? 

Black Justice Inequality?

Eric Garner	OJ SIMPSON
Killed (not murder since it was unintentional?) for being too big to subdue and choked to death (accidentally?) for trying to make money selling loose cigarettes. A crime amounting to a few dollars.	Acquitted of premeditated two knife murders of his spouse and her friend. Lost civil case and owed victim's families. Won his freedom using his money to beat the rap. A crime that was worth millions in costs between criminal and civil trials.

So my questions are: are all black people treated unfairly?  If I was black, perhaps I would be just as mad at the fact that all people are NOT treated the same.