Concealed Transparency | How NC Body Camera Law Hurts Public Trust
Close-up of police body camera (Adobe Stock)
ASHEBORO N.C. — As an increasing number of police departments get body cameras, footage from incidents both heartwarming and infuriating has made its way into the public consciousness. It's common to see body camera footage of officers committing incredible acts of bravery and compassion as well as gross infringements of people's rights and violent unjustified uses of force on the nightly news. If you pay attention to the clips that make the news and appear in tv shows and on the internet, you’ll notice a trend, very, very few of them are from N.C.
When a police officer shot and killed 16-year-old Ma’Khia Bryant on April 20th, 2021, in Columbus, Ohio, police body-worn camera footage was released within just a few hours. That footage showe...