Letter: Body cameras prevent mistreatment

Body cameras prevent mistreatment

The massive public reaction to the tragic deaths of three black teens at the hands of white police officers has led to a national call for use of body cameras to record and prevent any future mistreatment of suspects.

There is ample precedent. Animal-protection activists have used body cameras to document egregious atrocities and safety violations by workers in the meat, dairy and egg industries. The resulting videos have led to a number of corrective actions as well as felony convictions, meat recalls and even a $500 million civil settlement.

How ironic, then, that agribusiness interests in seven states (Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and Utah) have now enacted “ag-gag” laws imposing severe penalties for using body cameras in their agricultural facilities. The language is typically drafted by the anti-consumer American Legislative Exchange Council.

Let’s hope that other vested interests do not impose similar restrictions on the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers.

Andrew Teller

Aspen