Body Cams Work, if They’re Used Right

The police officer who shot and killed 15-year-old Jordan Edwards last month in Balch Springs, Tex., was charged with murder on Friday after the Police Department determined from body-camera images and other information that deadly force had been unwarranted. But like most jurisdictions, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office — which is investigating this case — has no written body-cam policy and has made no decisions about making the footage public.
Many communities adopted body cams in the wake of the public outcry over the police killings of Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Laquan McDonald, Walter Scott, Tamir Rice and others. The hope was that the cameras would bring transparency to the policing process, allowing the public to see how officers do their jobs. Misconduct could be recorded, and the devices could also provide evidence to exonerate officers who are falsely accused of misconduct.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/06/opinion/sunday/body-cams-work-if-theyre-used-right.html?emc=edit_th_20170507&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=60905533