Colton Police Hope for Accountability Once Body Cameras Implemented Throughout Force

The Colton City Police will soon have 50 body cameras to spread throughout their police force with some to spare after the City Council approved a contract two weeks ago to purchase them by using a grant from the federal government. Revenue from their asset forfeiture fund will assist in the purchase of this equipment. Colton’s sister city of Rialto has been utilizing these body cameras for the past couple of years with their police force and have seen “the incidents of use-of-force and citizens complaints being significantly reduced, because the presence of the cameras seem to both encourage compliance from the general public and it inhibits the use of extreme force by the officers.” A comparative study brought forward by the Rialto Police Department indicates that in 2011, when the cameras were not being used, approximately 60 or more use-of-force incidents and nearly 24 complaints against officers were reported, and in 2013 these numbers had been reduced down to 33 use-of-force incidents and four citizens complaints. These reductions in numbers have brought national attention to the application of body cameras for all police enforcement agencies. So much so, a report was created last year by the U.S. Justice Department in conjunction with the Police Executive Research Forum highlighting the benefits that the utilization of body cameras can provide for law enforcement agencies. The report showcases the fact that the use of cameras can help promote accountability and transparency while increasing an officer’s professionalism and evidence preservation. The support by the Colton City Council in acquiring these cameras for their officers seems to be a step in the right direction in helping eliminate any doubts by the public on the sincerity of the city wanting to prevent any future encounters with the city’s police officers in a negative fashion. Saying that, time will tell about the overall effectiveness of the body cameras.