The White House Wednesday weighed in on the apparent killing of an unarmed black man by a white police officer in North Charleston, S.C., saying the episode demonstrated the need to put more body cameras on cops.
“The video is awfully hard to watch,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said of the cellphone footage showing officer Michael Slager firing eight times at a fleeing black man, Walter Scott.
“When this video evidence was presented, it changed the way they were looking at this case, and I do think that is an example of how body cameras worn by police officers could have a positive impact in terms of building trust between law enforcement officers and the communities they serve.”
Earnest said he did not know whether President Obama had seen the video of the South Carolina shooting, which prompted a response similar to the outcry following recent police killings in Ferguson, Mo., and New York City.
Just before Earnest spoke, North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey announced that Slager had been fired. He is also facing murder charges.
The White House has endorsed a number of reforms for local police departments, including body cameras and increased civilian oversight.
The president has asked lawmakers for $75 million to purchase 50,000 body cameras for police officers nationwide.
Summey said the city of North Charleston was working to equip all police officers with body cameras.
