AT ISSUE: WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF DEKALB POLICE WEAR BODY CAMERAS?
Uniformed DeKalb County police officers will be equipped with body cameras by fall if county commission plans continue on track. At a recent board meeting county officials agreed to purchace 600 state-of-the-art devices that will automatically turn on if an officer is running or appears to be in a struggle.
These units will also allow officials to access the video almost immediately.
With the recent nationwide attention on officer-involved shootings and other police conduct issues, “(The cameras are) an effort to increase transparency and police accountability,” Police Chief James Conroy said.
According to the Justice Department, 15 deaths have resulted from DeKalb police use of force since 2010.
In January, a DeKalb officer was indicted for murder in the March 2015 fatal shooting of Anthony Hill, a mentally ill military veteran. Hill was unarmed and naked at the time. Officer Robert Olsen — the officer who shot Hill — was not wearing a body camera.
Here’s what readers had to say:
It's the only way to stop [Black Lives Matter] — Lawrence Rhoades
Body cameras have been proven effective in reducing the number of complaints about police abuse. I agree with the ACLU that it is essential that cameras operate continuously and without the ability of the officer to stop or edit recordings. Exceptions should be made in the cases when the officer is questioning witnesses or victims who might reasonably be concerned with threats of retaliation for their cooperation with police.
But, body cameras are just a one step toward reining in police abuse. Increasing the emphasis in training of police in de-escalation techniques, eliminating the incentives for police to run-up their numbers (like in Ferguson, MO where extreme ticketing practices were seen as a way to fund the department), ending the expensive and counterproductive “war on drugs” (like the city of Clarkston is attempting), increasing mental health screenings and care for cops, and creating national standards under which our police would operate.
All of these measures might help improve the effectiveness of our police and thus restore the trust between police and citizens. — Don McAdam
The use of body cameras will help a little but if they don't change the (code), that are using to get away with these crimes [and saying that they were fearful of there lives, it won't make much difference.] —Anonymous
I'm certain it will. It won't hurt, for sure! — Vic Johnson
I pray that they do. — Marlon Smith
The problem isn't body cameras, or even if the police need to shoot a suspect. In my opinion I don't believe it's a race issue either. … The biggest problem with the cops shooting some suspects is they didn't have to shoot to kill, most a taser could have been employed and other events they could have shot them in the leg to disarm a knife, bat, but if you are pointing a gun and you are a suspect, well that is why they issue a gun and bullet proof vest to [police]. … I have several friends who work in law enforcement and they will tell you that yes there are instances that are excessive because of experience and prior dealings, dislikes, and race. — Randy Cobb
Dionne Kinch for the AJC
Students in the Cobb County School District began their classes Monday and Marietta City Schools students began Wednesday. Though not starting after Labor Day the way schools used to be, a few school districts are waiting until Monday to open: Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton and Gwinnett.
Rockdale County began school in the last week of July.
This summer, CCSD Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said the teachers appreciate the extra weeks off incorporated into the school year with the last day to be May 24 in 2017.
But teachers and administrators may be in a minority when it comes to favoring a before-September school start date.
Again this year, the Cobb Chamber of Commerce is supporting “a uniform state school start date that would begin no sooner than the last Monday in August” as a part of its 2016 Legislative Agenda.
With travel and tourism being the second largest industry in Georgia and the top industry in Cobb County, chamber officials said providing this uniform start date will “maximize the economic benefit of a longer summer season” and provide “greater job and career training opportunities for youths and students.”
Do you agree with school officials or chamber officials? Should school start well before Labor Day, in late July or early August? Or is a post-Labor Day start a better idea? Send your comments to communitynews@ajc.com.
About the Author
