With every passing day, technology improves and becomes less expensive. Thus, police departments are increasingly using cameras as part of their toolsets.
Today, film equipment is super lightweight and capable of providing superior-quality images. When criminal arrests turn into trials, video evidence often plays a critical role.
Factor #1: Police cameras now have more support than ever
Officers recording interactions with the public was once a controversial notion. Today, most are comfortable with the idea that their actions will be on video. There is little doubt that social media is a contributor to general acceptance. So is the ubiquity of camera phones. It seems everyone now acknowledges that privacy can only go so far.
Factor #2: Police cameras incentivize better policing
Also, citizens are more accepting of police cameras because they work both ways. Cameras could capture evidence of police corruption or arrestee innocence. Knowing transgressions will be on camera helps prevent officers from applying excessive force. Instead, they are more likely to use negotiating tactics with less violent outcomes.
Factor #3: Police cameras serve different functions
Body cameras are one type of recording instrument. Another is the dashboard camera documenting everything that happens during a shift. Footage from devices built into patrol vehicles is particularly useful during review sessions. By having more than one perspective on a stop, departments gain better insight. They then use this information to improve future performance in the field.
Recording equipment has now become standard for police officers across the nation. Every time an arrest happens, they create critical evidence.