Officer involved deaths, & dash-cam videos

This is the second police related incident I am blogging about in a week, and I am sure I am going to pick up some slack over it, but I’d really like to know what people think about dash-cam, and officer-cam videos.

In one of many recent police involved shootings, it is being alleged that an officer gave a high-five to the body of a dead teen after he was shot and killed by police. Perhaps not the most polite thing to do, and certainly not professional.

The officer claims the 19 year old tried to run him over, but autopsy results indicate the young man was shot from behind.

Now if you read my blog, ” Maine State Police launch social media attack on uninspected motorist” where I ripped into the MSP for passing moral judgment on a driver via facebook after citing him, my next statements might come as a shock to you.

Personally, I believe if you try to run from the police you should expect to get shot. What GOOD reason could you possibly have for fleeing from the police? If a cop asks to see your hands? Show the officer your hands! If an officer asks you to step out of your vehicle? Step out!

Argue with the cop all you want until commands are issued. Once the cop wants you out of the vehicle, no matter how right you are, it no longer matters. You are now risking your life, over something that you should be able to fight in court.

That is where dash-cams, and officer-cams come into it. If a cop feels the need to fire his/her weapon, should the family of the victim automatically be allowed to see any and all video related to the incident? What about the media?

Personally? I believe the footage should be viewed by the family, and attorneys at the same time as law enforcement personnel. It should not be viewed by ANYBODY unless representatives of the family are present.

After that, I believe it should also be made available upon request by members of the press. That is the only way to assure that our officers are telling the same story as the video evidence supports. Perhaps then we can get beyond the rioting and hate that has been occurring for the past couple of years.

I also believe anybody being charged with something by the police should have the right to dash/officer-cam videos to use in their defense. Such videos will almost certainly be used by the prosecution if they help convict you.

Further, I believe people should also be allowed to record their interactions with law enforcement, simply because what’s good for the goose is also good for the gander!

What do you think?

Doug Alley

About Doug Alley

I grew up in Bath, Maine in an upper lower class family with 3 step sisters, a step brother, and a little sister. After high school I spent 3 years serving in the USAF at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage AK. I've competed in, and won, demolition derbies. I've competed in, and never won, stock car races. I am the 47-year-old father of an 11-year-old boy who is pretty sure he is smarter than I ever was. We live on a little less than an acre of land in a 1973 mobile home in Stetson with my wife Jen, some cats, a few chickens, and rabbits, and a couple of goats. I hunt, fish, camp out, dabble in photography, gardening, and I cook in variable degrees of near success.