There is no reason that someone meant to protect and serve should hurt an innocent person. Police officers should focus on helping all people, not just people of a certain background. This is certainly a problem in Chicago as well as surrounding areas, but there is some good news.
According to a recent report from Dec. 10, Chicago police patrol officers have to wear body cameras. In previous years, there were no body camera requirements, so there was a potential for officers to abuse their positions. Now, they’ll be held accountable with recordings that show exactly what was happening in front of them at the time of any alleged case of police brutality.
Why are officers required to wear body cameras?
Safety is the main concern, both for the officers themselves and the community. The mayor and the Chicago police superintendent work together to bring the officers into better relationships with the community. To start, body cameras keep them more accountable, so residents feel more comfortable with patrol officers. The cameras also help with transparency, eliminating much of the “he-said-she-said” of brutality cases.
While the cameras are one good tool used to keep officers accountable for their actions, that’s not all that’s happening in Chicago. The mayor and Chicago Police Department are also encouraging community policing philosophies and using teachable moments to strengthen the knowledge officers along with supporting trust in the community.
At of the end of 2017, there were 7,000 officers in Chicago with body cameras. They’ve been instructed to let you know if you’re being recorded. Additionally, if an officer doesn’t turn on the camera on purpose, he or she could face serious consequences for those actions.
Knowing that officers have body cameras is beneficial for your case. Live recordings help prove your side of the story and protect your rights.