The California chapter of the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU) recently launched an app to be used by the public to record police brutalities with immediately forwarding to ACLU for safekeeping even if their smartphones are seized by police.
As reported by Reuters, the California ACLU is determined to keep police in line with the law and protect the civil rights of the public, particularly the African Americans, who have been singled out for brutalities for so long. The check and balance on the police force of course needs the public to participate and the apps will make it more effective instead of the usual video recording that can be erased when the police seize the phone. Reuters reported that the choice of California as the first State to launch the app is appropriate because it is the most populous State in the United States.
Meanwhile, as reported by USA Today, the Obama Administration is funding $20 million for the body camera to be attached to a police officer on duty. The project of using body camera will further prevent the police from abusing their powers. The Justice Department funding of $20 million is the first tranche of the estimated $75 million budget to equip the Police Departments with better check and surveillance. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said this on Friday, 1st May, that by equipping the police officers on duty, they will be held more accountable to the law.
“Body-worn cameras hold tremendous promise for enhancing transparency, promoting accountability and advancing public safety for law enforcement officers and the communities they serve” says the Attorney General.