body cameras

Police body-worn cams: ‘It’s just beneficial for finding out the truth of the matter’

Police body-worn cams: ‘It’s just beneficial for finding out the truth of the matter’

On the night of Aug. 19, 2021, Torres, 40, was among a group of people police describe as in a near-riot state. On the pavement, covered by a tarp, was 67-year-old Beverly Avery, a Hispanic woman who was struck and killed by a motorist. (The identity of that driver still has not been released by police who only will say he is 22-years-old and from Bedford. Chief Allen D. Aldenberg said the results of the investigation are with the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office who will decide how to proceed.)

Do body cameras work? It's complicated.

Do body cameras work? It's complicated.

As calls for police reform have intensified, one popular response has been to equip more officers with body cameras.

The idea is that increased monitoring of officers will deter misconduct and make it easier to discover and punish when it does happen. Body cameras have support from a broad range of stakeholders — if not always for the same reasons — including many police officials and activists.