When one group has disproportionate authority over another, there is little leeway for the characteristics that make us uniquely human — carelessness, bigotry, emotion, error in judgment, ignorance. That truth has never been more evident than in recent months, which have been plagued with high-profile incidents of law enforcement fatally using force to apprehend suspected lawbreakers. The deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, among others, spurred outcries of police negligence, followed by protests and riots in major cities. #-ad_banner-#The trouble arises when an officer resorts to violence, but there is little or no… Read More
When one group has disproportionate authority over another, there is little leeway for the characteristics that make us uniquely human — carelessness, bigotry, emotion, error in judgment, ignorance. That truth has never been more evident than in recent months, which have been plagued with high-profile incidents of law enforcement fatally using force to apprehend suspected lawbreakers. The deaths of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri and Freddie Gray in Baltimore, Maryland, among others, spurred outcries of police negligence, followed by protests and riots in major cities. #-ad_banner-#The trouble arises when an officer resorts to violence, but there is little or no evidence to substantiate or discredit the need for an escalation in tactics. This often leads investigators to rely on eyewitness testimony and official police statements, both of which have potential for biases. Incidents like this foster distrust in the justice system and in the police. This is not a new problem, but it is one that finally has a solution. The answer: offer nonlethal weapons and hold all parties accountable by strapping a camera to every officer. A recent study by the San Diego Police Department concluded that the presence of body cameras reduced complaints against… Read More