With increasing awareness of the wrongdoing that police sometimes perpetrate, video recordings of their interactions with the public are becoming of increasing importance, both in Canada and the United States.
Here at home, one only has to recall the murder of Sammy Yatim by Officer James Forcillo. Had CCTV footage not recorded the officer's execution of Yatim, an official cover-up story would have undoubtedly carried the day, something along the lines of a knife-wielding drugging trying to stab the officer.
In the United States, were it not for a brave bystander's recording, Derek Chauvin would still be conducting his brutal practices, like the one that killed George Floyd.
Abuse of authority can happen in any jurisdiction, but the San Jose California Police Department seems to have perfected the art. Start the video at the nine-minute mark to learn all about it.
Protecting and serving the public entails real responsibility. In my view, bodycams should be standard issue for all police departments.
I can accept that one of the reasons their hospitalization stats are so high is the department's prudence in ensuring it's obtained whenever it's thought that it might be necessary. That doesn't happen here.
ReplyDeleteYes, John, it is good that they are so conscientious about those they harm. I guess that comes with the 'serve' part of their motto.
DeleteThanks to cell phones and other technology, Lorne, cameras are all around us. Our actions have to match our words.
ReplyDelete'In vino verfitas' has become 'in camera vertitas', Owen.
DeleteTo me, the most important aspect of the Floyd/Chauvin murder was the indictment of Chauvin's three colleagues. How they'll fare at trial could break "bystander cop immunity." Forcillo's fellow officers stood by and did nothing to prevent him from delivering not one but two fusillades of rounds into Sammy Yatim. If those bystander cops knew they could be held criminally accountable for Yatim's execution that young man might well be alive today.
ReplyDeleteA very good point, Mound. It will be most interesting to find out their fates.
DeleteSome of the bystander police to the Sammy Yatim murder were frozen in shock; some of them had seen it all before. None of them were concerned over their duty as policemen to address Forcillo's criminal behaviour, or their personal culpability as parties to the offence. All of them were of one mind once the Sergeant tased the corpse. Am I only guessing?
ReplyDeleteSounds about right, John. Solidarity forever, eh?
Delete