Just The News: The Justice Department said Wednesday that law enforcement personnel within the agency will begin wearing body cameras.
The department said the usage of the cameras is the first phase of its Body-Worn Camera Program and that the devices will be worn during “pre-planned law enforcement operations.”
Department officials said the program begins with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Phoenix and Detroit field divisions.
They also said that over the next several weeks the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Marshals Service will begin the first phase of the body-camera programs.
The department said it plans to “rely upon Congress to secure the necessary funding to equip agents nationwide.”
Anyone that has the power of life and death, the power to detain you, to restrict your free access of movement, needs to be scrutinized beyond that of an ordinary citizen. And wearing a body-cam, to record and preserve all actions and statements, is part of that scrutiny. No, we aren’t going to take your word for it or trust you. And it should not be just for, “pre-planned law enforcement operations”, any contact with the public in their official capacity should be recorded.
The honest competent officers welcome the body cams, if things go south they have proof that their actions were appropriate and lawful.
The purpose is to have annual Christmas Party footage for entertainment at dinner.
No, that’s Kwanzaa celebrations. My bad.
There were a few times back when I was a cop I sure wished there were such a thing. We didn’t even have dash cams.
Thugs will flat-out lie, amazingly enough, and I knew a couple of guys who were fired because the thugs were believed.
And, of course, it helps weed out the bad apples. Win-win
Wish I could give Rich multiple thumbs—-he nails it!
“Pre-planned” operations. PRE-planned. Pre- as distinct from what, post-planned?
Planning is by definition done before you can act on your plan. Saying “PRE-planning” is strong evidence of a weak mind and poor planning ability.
But we’re talking about the feddle govt here, and its crack troops of “agents”, so none of this is surprising.
It appears the news has had a total blackout about the black dude that came down from Michigan yesterday and made a bomb threat at Trump Tower Las Vegas.
Imagine a conservative threatening Obozo’s property in Martha’s Vineyard?
FUCK YOU MSM!
When I was young and naive, I once thought I wanted to be in law enforcement.
While taking two classes of ‘California Criminal Law’, (in the late ‘60s), I realized I did not have what it takes to be a ‘cop’.
It defiantly takes a certain breed of person to put up with, and to deal with the total ASSHOLES that want to dominate our society.
I’m not a cop but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night and I wear a body cam as I carry 24/7 and it could be my witness.
Now there will be a record when the manilla envelopes are swapped.
While I agree with Rich Taylor, I also lament that it has come to the need for recorded evidence to catch and convict criminals committing their crimes.
I remember 20-30 years ago, noticing the proliferation of surveillance cameras in Europe and the UK, and thinking, thank God we don’t have that police state here. Fast forward to now, and the rejection of God in our society has increased both immorality and the need to catch the act on camera – WHICH has lead to the abuse of this technology by totalitarian tyrants. CCP – and CCP wannabe, like USA democrats, come immediately to mind.
@stirrin
I think the difference is that with CCTV cameras in public places everyone is being spied on where as with police body-cams only the police interactions are being recorded,and for the benefit of both the citizens and the cops in case an impropriety occurs.
I remember as well all those cameras in Europe, your typical American finds this absolutely creepy but the Europeans think nothing of it.
About 15 years ago the family was in Picadilly Circus, I had a tissue or something that I wanted to get rid of and I couldn’t find a trash can anywhere. I asked this young girl working the cash register at the gift shop why there were no trash cans anywhere and without batting an eye she said ,”So nobody puts a bomb in them”. Sobering.
“Department officials said the program begins with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Phoenix and Detroit field divisions.”
Next on the list are CIA field agents and NSA Satellite Operation Command crew.
“Anyone that has the power of life and death, ”
Yea well I have a carry permit, and I’m not wearing a bod cam.
Further more, the Crips and the Bloods refuse also.
Unfortunately, they will tend to fail when they hold exculpatory evidence. Set up your own recording.
I just hope Peter Stroke and Lisa Page have the common decency to turn theirs off when they are bumping uglies.
I keep a body cam in the glove box of my truck. I can grab it and have it running in a few seconds if needed. If I ever get pulled over while driving or if anything happens that needs to be recorded, it will be recording everything that happens. It can’t be erased by anyone but me using a code. I also have a dash cam that loop records every moment the truck is running. Body cam 130 clams, dash cam 40 clams. Good investment for anyone.
@ Hambone SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 AT 1:14 AM
That’s good practice. Always good to have a back up witness for yourself.
I just turn my dash cam towards the window and they don’t even realize they’re being recorded.
With the feds it will be used as an additional surveillance tool.
But the video from those cams will be classified, and not admissible in court.
BFD – camera or not, rogue LEO’s will get a pass.
Unless they’re subduing a raving black crackhead.