At Luftman, Heck, and Associates, we have long believed that well regulated and carefully used body cameras would help to bring better justice to victims of police abuse. The recent indictment of former University of Cincinnati police officer Ray Tensing has demonstrated just how true of a help such footage can be in finding justice.
After Samuel DuBose, an unarmed black man, was shot after a traffic stop, Tensing claimed that the incident was triggered by hostile actions that put the officer’s life in danger from being dragged under the car. This story was corroborated by two officers who arrived on the scene after the shooting. What formerly may have been an impossible case to make against Tensing was undone due to body cam footage that showed that Tensing’s statement about the alleged crime was not in line with what the footage showed. The body camera footage was considered enough evidence to indict, despite police testimony supporting Tensing’s claims.
Police Body Cameras a Help We Hope to Soon No Longer Need
While a terrible tragedy, DuBose’s death can hopefully not be totally in vain. As police departments make it clear to officers that they take all claims of abuse seriously and that footage will be reviewed independently, fewer innocent men and women will be victims of such terrible crimes. Hopefully simply by increasing the use and transparency of body cameras, police will be held to a higher standard, and justice can be better served.
Although we still need to take great strides in proper regulation before body cameras can be used to their best purpose, we hope that their use in our city will prevent such a shooting from ever occurring here in Cincinnati again. Police body cameras can protect both average Americans and police from false accusations when used correctly. We hope to soon no longer need such protection, but in the meantime, body cameras provide a more objective account of events.
While body camera footage can help or hurt in a criminal case, it is important to remember that it does not always provide the full story alone. Video has been crucial in many recent investigations, but it’s also not always conclusive. That’s why if you have been accused of a crime based on body cam or other police footage, you still deserve a full, vigorous defense. If you are facing an arrest, call the experienced Cincinnati defense lawyers at Luftman, Heck, and Associates for a free consultation today at (513) 338-1890. We will never stop fighting for your rights.
