Latest Star story of police abuse: DUI beaten by cops...

[fuji]

This is why we need video cameras on police cars and possibly cameras affixed to officer's uniforms that record everything that happens.

There are some officers who do things they shouldn't and they deserve to be prosecuted. However, practically every thug in the city makes up a story about police brutality whether or not it's true. Without hard evidence it comes down to he-said-she-said and without witnesses it's probably impossible to figure out what's going on.

I'm sure the police union will moan and cry about the officer's privacy, but we license these guys to shoot and kill civilians--a responsibility that MUST come with some considerable oversight. If they don't want to be videoed 24/7 while on duty let them hang up their guns and take desk jobs.

 

[nottyboi]

This is why we need video cameras on police cars and possibly cameras affixed to officer's uniforms that record everything that happens.

There are some officers who do things they shouldn't and they deserve to be prosecuted. However, practically every thug in the city makes up a story about police brutality whether or not it's true. Without hard evidence it comes down to he-said-she-said and without witnesses it's probably impossible to figure out what's going on.

I'm sure the police union will moan and cry about the officer's privacy, but we license these guys to shoot and kill civilians--a responsibility that MUST come with some considerable oversight. If they don't want to be videoed 24/7 while on duty let them hang up their guns and take desk jobs.

OMG I AGREE 100% with Fuji!!!!! The end of the world is nigh!!!

 

[fmahovalich]

Self oversight does work.......Internal affairs goes after and dismisses many people in Toronto...Moreso than the SIU does.


And cameras?? Of course!!!! But be careful what you wish for...it may well prove that Police are quite good.


I read a report recently.....in Toronto....once cameras were installed in the cars...Complaints went down 90%....


YES.....90%

Suggesting that false complaints were running amok.

The remaining 10 % could then be better handled by the SIU

 

[Aardvark154]

This is why we need video cameras on police cars

Although I don't know about the Toronto Police Service, the members of many other police agencies in both the U.S. and Canada are all in favour of dashboard cameras. Fmahovalich is absolutely right on that point.

 

[Asterix]

I thought that was already SOP and that most major police departments had that in place, in the US at least.

 

[red]

Self oversight does work.......Internal affairs goes after and dismisses many people in Toronto...Moreso than the SIU does.


And cameras?? Of course!!!! But be careful what you wish for...it may well prove that Police are quite good.


I read a report recently.....in Toronto....once cameras were installed in the cars...Complaints went down 90%....


YES.....90%

Suggesting that false complaints were running amok.

The remaining 10 % could then be better handled by the SIU

or police acted better knowing they were being recorded?

 

[blackrock13]

or police acted better knowing they were being recorded?

Or both.

 

[The Oracle]

This is why we need video cameras on police cars and possibly cameras affixed to officer's uniforms that record everything that happens.

There are some officers who do things they shouldn't and they deserve to be prosecuted. However, practically every thug in the city makes up a story about police brutality whether or not it's true. Without hard evidence it comes down to he-said-she-said and without witnesses it's probably impossible to figure out what's going on.

I'm sure the police union will moan and cry about the officer's privacy, but we license these guys to shoot and kill civilians--a responsibility that MUST come with some considerable oversight. If they don't want to be videoed 24/7 while on duty let them hang up their guns and take desk jobs.

Put me down as one who agrees.

 

[Aardvark154]

or police acted better knowing they were being recorded?

1) doesn't change the fact that complaints dropped by 90 percent, which is a stagering number.

2) if the police were acting it is rather hard to keep that up day after day, month after month, year after year.

 

[red]

1) doesn't change the fact that complaints dropped by 90 percent, which is a stagering number.

2) if the police were acting it is rather hard to keep that up day after day, month after month, year after year.

possibly. one would need to review the actual study to understand the reasons for the reduction in complaints and to see what other factors may be involved. I was really just pointing out that the reasons for the decrease are not that clear cut.

 

[mandrill]

Self oversight does work.......Internal affairs goes after and dismisses many people in Toronto...Moreso than the SIU does.


And cameras?? Of course!!!! But be careful what you wish for...it may well prove that Police are quite good.


I read a report recently.....in Toronto....once cameras were installed in the cars...Complaints went down 90%....


YES.....90%

Suggesting that false complaints were running amok.

The remaining 10 % could then be better handled by the SIU

It is human nature that there would be many false complaints. It is also human nature that cops who would thump and pound before the cameras were introduced became more careful and well-behaved afterwards.

Either way - or both - it sounds like the innovation is a great idea.

 

[fuji]

Self oversight does work.......Internal affairs goes after and dismisses many people in Toronto...Moreso than the SIU does.

Whereas perhaps in some of those dismissals what was actually called for was prosecution and jail time.

And cameras?? Of course!!!! But be careful what you wish for...it may well prove that Police are quite good.

Absolutely nothing wrong with that!

Suggesting that false complaints were running amok.

Hard to say. Whether it was officers with the knowledge that they were on camera improving their behavior, or whether it was frivolous false complaints drying up, I don't care--either way, it WORKED, as BOTH false complaints AND actual misbehavior are problems that need solving, and it sounds like the cameras are doing a bang up job of it, either way.

Sounds like success.

 

[nottyboi]

But be careful what you wish for...it may well prove that Police are quite good.


I read a report recently.....in Toronto....once cameras were installed in the cars...Complaints went down 90%....


YES.....90%

Suggesting that false complaints were running amok.

The remaining 10 % could then be better handled by the SIU

I would be very happy if the police are proven to be much better then our perception. That would help them as well. Yet they continue to resist any type of oversight. Why is that?

 

[fmahovalich]

I don;t think it is the Police being critisized...in the STAR!!.

SIU is being criticized...which IS the CIVILIAN oversight..headed by an ANTI POLICE GUY!!!!

AS I said earlier...Internal Affairs, prosecutes and dismisses more people than SIU ever does...(And INTERNAL AFFAIRS IS THE POLICE)

Red is absolutely right...the study would have to be reviewed to determine if Cameras were cutting the complaints...or Police were acting better.. Either way....I agree lets look at a study......But in the same vein, before we all jump to conclusions in here, perhaps WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE INVESTIGATIONS of the SIU before us amateurs come to the anti police conclusion as well!!!

 

[nottyboi]

I don;t think it is the Police being critisized...in the STAR!!.

SIU is being criticized...which IS the CIVILIAN oversight..headed by an ANTI POLICE GUY!!!!

AS I said earlier...Internal Affairs, prosecutes and dismisses more people than SIU ever does...(And INTERNAL AFFAIRS IS THE POLICE)

Red is absolutely right...the study would have to be reviewed to determine if Cameras were cutting the complaints...or Police were acting better.. Either way....I agree lets look at a study......But in the same vein, before we all jump to conclusions in here, perhaps WE SHOULD LOOK AT THE INVESTIGATIONS of the SIU before us amateurs come to the anti police conclusion as well!!!

Yes it is the SIU that is being criticized. I would suspect the head of the SIU is behind them. He cannot change the SIU without public support and public awareness. I think this is part of his effort to win support for change.