This essay by a Harvard University Law School student makes one accurate statement, i.e., that cameras worn by police reduce the number of citizen complaints about police abuse. The rest is questionable. Saying it was not until "TMZ released the video of Rice's knockout punch in the hotel elevator to the public. [. . .] the executives doling out the repercussions could not ignore the realities of domestic violence." That avoids the lack of spine, and relaxed rectitude of the leadership of the NFL. They knew what Rice did. He admitted he punched his then fiancé. Cameras were present on and near the elevator showing that the woman was unconscious. NFL officials saw the elevator video too before it was released to the public. They did nothing. This essay misses the fact that NFL leadership failed to act.
Another element missing from this discussion is medical evidence. Two autopsies were conducted (and a third ordered) showing that Mr. Brown had his hands down when he was shot. Long before video cameras were used, medical examiners were able to determine what caused injuries and why people died. Are cameras better than science?
One conclusion that "state and federal legislation is necessary to ensure that all police departments are equipped with dashboard and body-worn cameras." is wishful thinking and offensive to the constitutional system of government. Also missing is any discussion of the role of the NJ prosecutor (a lawyer) in the Rice assault. Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School apparently do not teach their students about the role of the constitution. See e.g., Eric "White people are cowards" Holder, and his mentor Barack "Typical white person" Obama. Domestic violence and homicide are state crimes. Having more laws and allowing the US government to take jurisdiction contrary to law, and to dictate how to run local police departments, will not reduce those crimes.
Saying "The footage of Ray Rice's brutal assault reveals the urgent need for body-worn cameras on cops to capture independent, visual evidence" does not make sense. Even if police were required under penalty of death to wear video cameras, no policeman was present when Janay was punched out by Ray Rice. This indicates a pervasive misguided belief in the magical powers of cameras. Medical science helps to solve crime too. Not just video cameras.
http://cambridge.wickedlocal.com/article/20140915/NEWS/140917576
Guest column: Why cameras matter — What Ray Rice tells us about Mike Brown
By Jaimie McFarlin
Posted Sep. 15, 2014 @ 3:55 pm
Updated at 4:48 PM
CAMBRIDGE Chronicle
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