Jessica Williford: Cameras will protect police, suspects

Regarding the April 9 news article “State may push body cameras”: It is about time. It will not only protect officers accused of false misconduct but also ordinary residents who may encounter a corrupt officer of the law.

Of course, there needs to be set policies in place, but I hope that body cameras are seen in the near future rather than years later.

I like what Rep. Edward Hanes Jr., a Democrat from Forsyth County, said: “We want a clean bill so folks feel there are no fingers being pointed either way.”

That is why it is important to have set policies so there will be no accusations that evidence from body cameras was tampered with. Costs may be high at first, but so are lawsuits that are going on right now because of residents being shot and then conflicting testimony from all involved given.

It makes sense that it would give peace of mind to the officer and suspect. That kind of security will be cost-effective in the end.

This story was originally published April 10, 2015 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Jessica Williford: Cameras will protect police, suspects."