The Opaque Reality of 21st Century Policing
In 2014, following closely on the heels of the murder of a man named Michael Brown (Ferguson, MO), former President Obama and Attorney General William Holder launched a massive effort to reform the transparency of policing throughout the US. They called this push to end unjust practices under color of authority “21st Century Policing.”
A key component of this reform was to equip every officer in America with a body worn camera. The intent of these cameras was to give the public access to interactions between the police and those they contact.
Agencies throughout the country applied for funding and equipped their sworn officers with this new tool. The logistics of this new technology were hammered out, and today many (if not most) agencies have the ability to capture video in the field. The downloaded video files are processed in a routine manner (consistent with evidence handling procedures), and easily retrievable by trained, dedicated staff.
So why is it that several years later, body cam video remains under lock and key, accessible only to the agencies who are the object of the reforms, while our citizens continue to be abused and our cities burn? There has been zero advancement towards transparency or police reform, and abuse of citizens under color of authority continues.
Why are these videos so heavily guarded by our law enforcement agencies? Why are we the people still reliant on cell phone video? Agencies deploying staff wearing body cams into the community touted these cameras as having a direct effect on a more positive vibe between the Officers and those they contact. “Best behavior” is a phrase I’ve read often. So what are these agencies hiding, and why?
BERKELEY, CA- On March 14th, 2020: 5 BPD Officers apprehend BMA armed with a knife. Suspect shot with a 40mm while on his knees. Officers state "he refused to lie down."
On May 29th, Officer Derek Chauvin (Minneapolis PD) was arrested for the murder of George Floyd, a citizen. Cell phone video of the incident was the sole motivation for this arrest. Body cam video from all 4 officers involved in Floyd’s death remains unpublished by the MPD. How many prior incidents of abuse were these officers connected with and captured on body cam video that were withheld from public scrutiny? Would a routine release of body cam video upon public request have ended these officers’ careers before they had the chance to kill an unarmed, handcuffed citizen?
Buffalo, NY- Police action captured on video show something different than the PD's initial claim that the 75 year old suspect "tripped and fell." This cell phone video reached the public, and only after it went viral were 2 Officers charged with felony assault.
Unjust policing is alive and well in the “Greatest Nation on Earth,” and will continue to be nurtured by those behind the "Blue Wall" until we allow citizens the ability to monitor police behavior on a routine basis with the goal of fulfilling the ideals of transparency and police reform in the 21st Century. Until that happens, taking the occasional “knee” or protesting other agency's practices when they’re “caught” on a cell phone is just lip service.
Big Joe 77
