Baltimore to put cameras in police vans, review riot gear

[Jazzy]

Cameras that can record will be installed in Baltimore police vans like the one in which Freddie Gray suffered a fatal injury, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said on Wednesday.

She said the cameras were among steps the city was taking after protests and rioting following Gray's death in April.

"We're working through a process that will place cameras with recording capabilities in the backs of all our police vans, to ensure that we have a more complete record of what occurs there," Rawlings-Blake told reporters.

The van in which Gray was transported had a non-recording camera that the driver could use to monitor the passengers, but it was not working at the time.

The city also is reviewing riot gear used by police during the unrest, when some of it failed to work. Baltimore needs the right equipment in case trouble breaks out following trial verdicts in the Gray case, she said.

Gray, a 25-year-old black man, was arrested on April 12 for possessing a knife and placed in the back of a police van for transport. He suffered a severe spinal injury during the ride and died a week later.

Six officers have been charged in Gray's death and their trial is set for October. About 160 police officers were hurt and businesses suffered millions of dollars in damages during rioting on the day of his funeral.

Rawlings-Blake also denied she had issued a "stand down" order during the rioting. Some officers have said the order, akin to a withdrawal, was aimed at keeping police from looking as aggressive as officers did during rioting in Ferguson, Missouri, last year sparked by an officer's shooting of an unarmed black man.

Source

My thoughts: Time to put full time body cams on all police. That will stop the abuse, insure the perps get nailed for what they do, allow the videos as evidence to put away criminals, clean up the bad cops and reduce lawsuits. The savings on lawsuits will easily pay for the cost of the cameras and storage needs. No more fake crying about discrimination when the video will clearly show how someone was treated. It will also show clear evidence of any abuse and help clean the blue ranks of the bad cops. Win-Win.

What do you think?

 

[Nebulous]

I agree. Camera's police the police. Some of them think they can treat people however they want and abuse us just because they're a cop. Not anymore.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

I think we are going to have a shortage of police in this country in a few years with no one wanting to be cop. Because a few out of a million cops go bad we want to treat all police officers right out of the box like criminals. I once was for the body cameras but after a while to think about it that would be a big no.

 

[Dee]

I think we are going to have a shortage of police in this country in a few years with no one wanting to be cop. Because a few out of a million cops go bad we want to treat all police officers right out of the box like criminals. I once was for the body cameras but after a while to think about it that would be a big no.

Yeah, no one's gonna want to be a cop 'cause they won't be able to get away with shit they knew they could before the camera thing gained speed. Just because there are a few bad eggs in the lot does not mean we need to punish those who aren't. This is for protection for both sides: for the cops (the good and the bad) and the citizens they come in contact with. Hell, I'm fine with it weeding out the ones who are worried they might have their every move and word recorded. It's not like we're asking them to wear the cameras off the clock. Besides, plenty of work places install cameras to make sure their employees are acting properly. It's no different than my managers who sit in an office with the camera pointing at them from the ceiling. It's a precaution for a reason.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Yeah, no one's gonna want to be a cop 'cause they won't be able to get away with shit they knew they could before the camera thing gained speed. Just because there are a few bad eggs in the lot does not mean we need to punish those who aren't. This is for protection for both sides: for the cops (the good and the bad) and the citizens they come in contact with. Hell, I'm fine with it weeding out the ones who are worried they might have their every move and word recorded. It's not like we're asking them to wear the cameras off the clock. Besides, plenty of work places install cameras to make sure their employees are acting properly. It's no different than my managers who sit in an office with the camera pointing at them from the ceiling. It's a precaution for a reason.

As always people never see the slippery slope with these things until it hits them in the face the ass and between the legs. This will have unintended consequences besides cop shortages.

 

[Dee]

As always people never see the slippery slope with these things until it hits them in the face the ass and between the legs. This will have unintended consequences besides cop shortages.

You should try looking for the slippery slope in other avenues of your life, Mr. Know-It-All.

 

[~KAGE-008]

My thoughts: Time to put full time body cams on all police. That will stop the abuse, insure the perps get nailed for what they do, allow the videos as evidence to put away criminals, clean up the bad cops and reduce lawsuits. The savings on lawsuits will easily pay for the cost of the cameras and storage needs. No more fake crying about discrimination when the video will clearly show how someone was treated. It will also show clear evidence of any abuse and help clean the blue ranks of the bad cops. Win-Win.

I also agree. People have had enough of the constant insecurity these days. Especially in my country, where some criminals are unfortunately freed due to lack of experience when it comes to measuring the rate of robberies, assaults and murder that occur almost every day.

 

[+paradox]

As always people never see the slippery slope with these things until it hits them in the face the ass and between the legs. This will have unintended consequences besides cop shortages.

the good cops wont have anything to worry about and the bad ones will have to end their job or act right...

 

[Nebulous]

the good cops wont have anything to worry about and the bad ones will have to end their job or act right...

Indeed, pretty simple logic there. The good ones will be alright, the bad ones will straighten up their acts. Win win.

 

[Dee]

Indeed, pretty simple logic there. The good ones will be alright, the bad ones will straighten up their acts. Win win.

And if they get around to revamping police policy and procedure for internal issues, the good cops might actually have evidence to back up their word against the corruption within departments and higher-ups.

 

[Nebulous]

And if they get around to revamping police policy and procedure for internal issues, the good cops might actually have evidence to back up their word against the corruption within departments and higher-ups.

I'm sure a lot of good cops have lost their jobs for not going along with corruption from higher ups.

 

[+paradox]

very simple logic indeed...

 

[Dee]

I'm sure a lot of good cops have lost their jobs for not going along with corruption from higher ups.

My point exactly.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

the good cops wont have anything to worry about and the bad ones will have to end their job or act right...

I will assume you are a good guy and have done nothing wrong or illegal and am a morally decent guy. So you should not have a problem with government monitoring your emails and online activity 24/7. You have done nothing wrong right? You let things like this escalate and it just gives a excuse to go to the next level of intrusion in some part of society of someones life or lives you just never thought of. It looks all good and sweet with sprinkles on top now but it ain't! Better and constant training. More reviews of the person. But cameras here and everywhere no thank you!

 

[+paradox]

I will assume you are a good guy and have done nothing wrong or illegal and am a morally decent guy. So you should not have a problem with government monitoring your emails and online activity 24/7. You have done nothing wrong right? You let things like this escalate and it just gives a excuse to go to the next level of intrusion in some part of society of someones life or lives you just never thought of. It looks all good and sweet with sprinkles on top now but it ain't! Better and constant training. More reviews of the person. But cameras here and everywhere no thank you!

the government is doing that anyways, so might as well do it to police the police...

and the two comparisons aren't really the same, as one, we are talking about government servants and the other you are talking about civilians...

government should be watched as much if not more than it's citizens...

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

the government is doing that anyways, so might as well do it to police the police...

and the two comparisons aren't really the same, as one, we are talking about government servants and the other you are talking about civilians...

government should be watched as much if not more than it's citizens...

Just becauset the government is doingi t doesn't mean it is okay to endorse it further.

They are all interconnected when it comest to this kind of intrusion.

Government yes, not the local law enforcement that is part of our community.

 

[Dee]

I will assume you are a good guy and have done nothing wrong or illegal and am a morally decent guy. So you should not have a problem with government monitoring your emails and online activity 24/7. You have done nothing wrong right? You let things like this escalate and it just gives a excuse to go to the next level of intrusion in some part of society of someones life or lives you just never thought of. It looks all good and sweet with sprinkles on top now but it ain't! Better and constant training. More reviews of the person. But cameras here and everywhere no thank you!

There's a difference, though. It's not personal emails being monitored. It's work-related (and if you are using personal communications at work, you should do it off the clock or on break). If you have a problem with cops being monitored, then you need to also have a problem with every other employer in the world who does the exact same thing, and let me tell you there are a shit ton of them. And no, it's not any different than me being monitored when I'm at work or when employees at the bank are handling money, etc.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

There's a difference, though. It's not personal emails being monitored. It's work-related (and if you are using personal communications at work, you should do it off the clock or on break). If you have a problem with cops being monitored, then you need to also have a problem with every other employer in the world who does the exact same thing, and let me tell you there are a shit ton of them. And no, it's not any different than me being monitored when I'm at work or when employees at the bank are handling money, etc.

That is a private business I believe they can do as they please. Do I like it? No I do not. But when even the lowest form of government starts using devices to monitor people that is a problem and dangerous for all of us.

 

[Dee]

That is a private business I believe they can do as they please. Do I like it? No I do not. But when even the lowest form of government starts using devices to monitor people that is a problem and dangerous for all of us.

How do you know the police administration isn't pushing to get cameras installed? I've heard of plenty police departments actually being excited to get to use them simply because it protects both the people they come in contact with and themselves. There was a study done a while ago where the cameras were being tested out, and the police were required to inform anyone they came in contact with about their being recorded. After the study was completed, the number of complaints against officers went down drastically, and many officers were obviously thrilled about that. You may see it as another freedom being taken away, but in all honesty it is meant to protect all parties involved.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

How do you know the police administration isn't pushing to get cameras installed? I've heard of plenty police departments actually being excited to get to use them simply because it protects both the people they come in contact with and themselves. There was a study done a while ago where the cameras were being tested out, and the police were required to inform anyone they came in contact with about their being recorded. After the study was completed, the number of complaints against officers went down drastically, and many officers were obviously thrilled about that. You may see it as another freedom being taken away, but in all honesty it is meant to protect all parties involved.

Yes and I am sure the police thought prohibition was going to work out fantastically when it was put into law also. And we saw how that turned out. We will pay for the unseen consequences of this action in the future.

It is another freedom taken away and no benefits from it is worth that loss.