The White House supports more body cameras for cops, the administration said in response to an online petition calling for all law enforcement officials to wear such technology in the wake of the police killing of an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Mo.
“For years, this administration has advanced the use of cameras, both body-worn and vehicular, and recognized the numerous benefits to making cameras available to law enforcement officers,” the White House said in response to the online petition with more than 150,000 signatures. “We support the use of cameras and video technology by law enforcement officers, and the Department of Justice continues to research best practices for implementation.”
Advocates have called for more oversight of local police departments and the demilitarization of law enforcement officials after violent protests in the streets of Ferguson following Brown’s death.
Still, the White House said that questions remain about how to best deploy such cameras, including where to place them, the privacy implications of the technology and the cost to local police departments.
But the administration highlighted a Department of Justice report that said such cameras often capture useful evidence in investigations and foster a more civil relationship between police officers and residents.
“As Ferguson continues to heal as a community, this administration will continue to work to ensure that our justice system, across the country, is truly just,” the White House said. “We’ll continue to work to support the use of video technology, review and evaluate law enforcement agencies that use it, and continue to engage in discussions about how this technology impacts policing, communities, and public safety.”
