EDITORIAL: Body cameras will provide accurate look at police interactions

Posted 2/26/15

It’s a growing national trend and we’re glad to see it arrive here, thanks to a state grant. Officers should have no fear of their work being monitored and recorded. If they are doing the work properly, these cameras will reveal that. If not, we …

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EDITORIAL: Body cameras will provide accurate look at police interactions

Posted

Thumbs up to the Powell Police Department for choosing to equip its patrol officers with body cameras.

It’s a growing national trend and we’re glad to see it arrive here, thanks to a state grant. Officers should have no fear of their work being monitored and recorded. If they are doing the work properly, these cameras will reveal that. If not, we will be able to see a permanent record of what is happening.

You ask, should everyone have their daily workload recorded? No. Police work is far different than almost any other job, which is why more and more law enforcement agencies are utilizing cameras.

These are people equipped with a badge and a gun, uniformed officers with the authority to detain, arrest and, in severe cases, injure or even kill a person. We should know what is occurring, and these cameras should ensure we do.

It should work in their favor in most cases. When a person alleges unprofessional or even illegal conduct, the cameras should reveal the truth. In addition, since people are now recording so much of their everyday life, including encounters with law enforcement, it just makes sense for cops to have their actions recorded as well. Those recordings will provide context and a more complete view of events and will provide very useful evidence in prosecutions as well.

Police Chief Roy Eckerdt is still working with his management team, as well as City Attorney Sandra Kitchen, to come up with a policy on when the cameras should be on and when they can be turned off. We trust that latter will be rare and only when confidentiality is absolutely required.

The Park County Sheriff’s Office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol and other agencies need to add cameras to the standard equipment issued to their officers as well. In today’s world, much more good than harm can come from this welcome change.

Thumbs up to state Rep. Elaine Harvey for standing up for civility in government.

Harvey, R-Lovell, is the chairwoman of the House Labor, Health and Social Services Committee. During a hearing on Senate File 115, which would outlaw discrimination on sexual orientation and gender identity, state Rep. Harlan Edmonds, R-Cheyenne, decided to make a stand against the bill in a rather obstinate manner.

First, he asked if sexual orientation included pedophilia. No, the bill’s sponsors told him, it does not; a private life is far different than an assault upon a child. Then he asked if this bill was what the framers of the U.S. and state constitutions had in mind.

Finally, Edmonds, a freshman legislator, tried to add an amendment that if passed, the law would become effective when “hell freezes over,” instead of the normal date of July 1. Harvey had had enough at that point. She ejected him from the hearing and would not allow him to cast a vote on his way out the door.

“We said civility would prevail,” Harvey said.

Good for her. While Edmonds has a right to object to the bill and register his opposition, he instead chose to grandstand and attempt to make a mockery of the process. On a positive note, he has since apologized to Harvey and the veteran legislator accepted it. House Speaker Kermit Brown said there would be no further sanction of Edmonds.

The world is changing and showing more acceptance and tolerance for all people. Harvey displayed that during Friday’s hearing, and we applaud her for that.

The bill, which passed the state Senate easily, was defeated by the full House on Tuesday. It seems likely it will come before the Legislature again and we hope that debate can center on the issue in a reasoned, polite manner.

Thumbs up to a pair of workshops on the localized food system in the Big Horn Basin.

“Specialty Crop Farming in the Northern Rocky Mountain High Plains Desert: Soil Fertility” will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. It’s an introduction to the “Food Hub” workshop, set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 14. Both will be held at the Park County Library in Cody.

The first workshop will concentrate on soil health and include segments on how to apply for grant money for high tunnel greenhouses. Regional farmers will offer advice and information. An impressive lineup of speakers will be on hand as well.

The March 14 workshop will focus on existing food hubs and how they function. It will also feature a talented and informative array of presenters.

Admission is free. Registration is required, however. Visit Shoshone River Farm on Facebook for the links to register for either or both events or go to tinyurl.com/l9av3a2 to register for Specialty Crop Farming: Soil Fertility.       

The Food Hub workshop registration is online at eventbrite.com/e/cody-food-hub-tickets-15662066663 or search for Eventbrite’s website, then search for Cody food hub. For more information contact Scott Richard at shoshoneriverfarms@gmail.com.

Another potentially useful course is set for Thursday, March 12, at Northwest College.

Stanley Jones, owner of Dorsey Creek Organics, will talk about “The Food Connection” from 6:30-8 p.m. at Northwest College in Room 70 of the Fagerberg Building. Jones will talk about food as a natural medicine to avoid and minimize the effects of autoimmune disease as well as ensuring more robust health.

We’re not saying these are the right answers or the only solutions to America’s health and weight crisis, nor do we feel these forms of agriculture are superior to more traditional methods. We do feel they are well worth a look and listen.

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