Gordon Forgey

Nobody knows for sure, but the protests and rioting in Ferguson, Missouri, might have been avoided by virtue of a simple little camera.

Many police departments around the country are requiring their officers to wear cameras. Although the practice is relatively new, many violent incidents between police and civilians have been recorded.

For years, civilian videos and dash board cameras have been used to record violent moments between law enforcement and the public.

An example is the Rodney King episode. Few could square the violence of his beating with the official statements. Other examples exist, such as that of the patrolman straddling a woman on the side of a road and violently hitting her multiple times.

Then there are the videos that have made prosecution of criminals easier and have exonerated police of false charges.

Witnesses are often unreliable. They may have personal agendas that color their recollections. Although still subject to interpretation, video images are not biased.

Civilians should welcome the new technology as a protection of their civil liberties. Cops also should welcome the cameras as indisputable evidence of their actions. From simple traffic stops to violent domestic situations to armed confrontations, a little camera can clarify what actually happened.

If Officer Darren Wilson had been carrying a body cam during his encounter with and shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson the doubts, suspicions and violence surrounding the case may have been avoided.

Every police force should have their officers wired. Then if controversy arises, replaying the images could put a more objective light on the situation.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher