Reducing Police Brutality Against Black Drivers
Police brutality against Black drivers is an ongoing issue in the United States. Recently, an incident involving Tyre Nichols, a Black driver in Georgia, made headlines around the country. In order to reduce excessive force, there is one change that should be made to policing in the country.
Body Cameras
In order to reduce police brutality against Black drivers, one obvious solution is for officers to be required to wear body cameras at all times. Body cameras are small devices that record video from an officer’s perspective. They have a variety of advantages, including:
- Transparency: Body camera footage provides a full view of an incident, helping to reduce the risk of misinformation and biased testimony.
- Accountability: When all officers are wearing body cameras, they understand they are being held accountable for their actions.
- Citizen Protection: Body cameras protect citizens by providing an objective version of events. They can help ensure that any use of force is appropriate.
The potential impact of body cameras is clear. If officers are wearing body cameras, it can reduce the risk of excessive force, which often disproportionately affects Black drivers.
Conclusion
Police brutality is a serious issue in the United States, and Black drivers are especially vulnerable. In order to reduce discriminatory force, it’s essential that agents are required to wear body cameras. With body cameras, there is an increased level of transparency and accountability, which can lead to better outcomes for all citizens.
In recent years, the number of cases of police brutality against black drivers has tragically increased, resulting in the tragic death of Tyre Nichols. Nichols, a 27-year-old black man, was pulled over in California by a white police officer who proceeded to place Nichols in a chokehold and shoot him in the back with a taser gun. Despite local efforts to bring attention to such stark examples of police brutality, nothing has been done to reduce its prevalence.
However, there is now a chance to change this. California Senator Holly Mitchell and Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer recently proposed a new bill that, if approved, could help reduce police brutality in the state.
The bill is fairly straightforward. If passed, the police officer who pulls over a motorist must first provide their name and the reason for the stop. Additionally, the officer must explain to the motorist what actions the officer will be taking – such as a pat-down search or a request for documents. Furthermore, the officer must turn on their body cameras and keep them on throughout the process. In addition, the bill also outlines a formal procedure when officers interact with vulnerable people and it requires regular audio/video recordings of traffic stops. If an officer senses a potentially dangerous situation, they must clearly explain the risk and situation to the motorist. Lastly, the bill requires police officers to take a two-hour implicit bias training course.
The bill is currently under consideration and should it be approved, it may set a precedent for other states to follow. While California has thus far been slow to address the issue of police brutality against black individuals, if this bill passes, it could be an example of real, lasting, and positive change.
At this time, it is unclear whether this bill will ultimately be passed – and if it is, it may take some time to recognize its positive effect. Nonetheless, it shows a tremendous amount of progress in the fight against police brutality. Hopefully, this bill will provide long-term solutions to the ongoing, pervasive issue of violent policing in minority communities.
