GSN Aug/Sept Digital Edition

Senator proposes half-billion in funding for bodycameras over the next five yearsBy Steve BittenbenderSouth Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scottannounced on Tuesday a proposalto spend $500 million overthe next five years to provide bodycameras for law enforcement organizationsacross the country.The proposal, called the Safer Officersand Safer Citizens Act, wouldcall for the Department of Justiceto create a new grant program toaward funds to state, local and tribalagencies that meet certain criteria.Its sponsor, Sen. Tim Scott, said it’shis hope the bill can help bridgerelations between police officersand the public, which have beenstrained in the last year due to thenumber of deaths – in particular,the number of deaths of minorities– tied to the use of force by officers.One such incident hit very closeto home for Sen. Scott. Earlier thisyear, Walter Scott, no relation to theSenator, was shot to death in Aprilby an officer in South Carolina. Thatofficer, Michael Slager, was eventuallyfired from the North CharlestonPolice Department after a videowas found that contradicted his reportingof the events. The graphicvideo showed Scott,of body cameras, aunarmed, runningcommitment submitaway from Slager,who proceeded todata to the Justiceofficials and a comprehensivefire several shotscommu-at Scott. After hewas hit and fell tothe ground, Slagerwalked up to Scottand handcuffed him.nications plan thateducates the communityabout the camerasand their use.The use of bodyLast month, acameras has beenSenator Tim Scottgrand jury indictedcontroversial in thehim on murder charges.“While rebuilding that sense oftrust will take time, I believe thatproviding law enforcement agencieswith the resources they need toequip officers with body-worn camerasis an important step,” Sen. Scottsaid in a press release. “We have seenthat body-worn cameras can keepboth officers and citizens safer, andthat video can help provide clarityfollowing an altercation. If a pictureis worth a thousand words, then avideo is worth a thousand pictures.”Law enforcement agencies receivingthe funding would need to offera 25 percent match toward the federalfunds. Agencies also must meetcertain criteria, including the developmentof policies regarding the usepast, but support for them has grownas the number of questionable useof force cases rise. In May, a RasmussenReports survey indicated 70percent of voters favored their use.The American Civil Liberties Unionissued a report earlier this year thatsaid while it generally is apprehensiveof surveillance cameras, policewornbody cameras can serve asan important check against abuse.“Cameras have the potential tobe a win-win, helping protect thepublic against police misconduct,and at the same time helping protectpolice against false accusationsof abuse,” wrote Jay Stanley,an ACLU policy analyst in March.Scott’s release noted a report thatthe use of cameras in a California6