It should be a priority at every level of government that law enforcement officers are equipped with body cameras and required to use them during all applicable interactions. Body cameras provide basic accountability protecting BOTH officers and the public. They should not be considered essential equipment for law enforcement and related fields.
I’m not an expert on use of force or escalation. And so this is not a post evaluating what happened. A full investigation must occur immediately to determine what went wrong. What I do know is that in yesterday’s horrific tragedy in MN there was no officer perspective captured via body camera. That absence makes objective fact finding during an investigation of this nature more difficult and prolongs uncertainty.
Again, maximum transparency protects BOTH the public AND officers. For that reason, I’ll continue to support the purchase and deployment of body cameras for county law enforcement and related personnel including Sheriffs, Corrections and Parole when professionals in those fields tell me they see a need.
During my time on the Board, we’ve proactively supported the Lehigh County Sheriff’s Office to the point where they’re fully equipped to deploy body cameras, dash cameras and other transport vehicle cameras as needed.
I’ll remain vocal on this issue and open to evaluating additional areas for investment as needed. Body cameras ARE EXPENSIVE. But necessary and worth every penny. It’s become an essential piece of equipment.