Every community relies — and wants to rely — on its police force for protection. Therein rests the honor and burden of the right to use force on behalf of the community: that trust is readily given, and a worthy leadership in return commits to a practice of openness and verification.
It was Reagan to whom the expression, ‘trust but verify’ is attributed. Like so much else from Reagan, it’s a clear, direct, prudent principle.
Weak, mediocre, or dishonest officials fear verification of their actions. They expect trust alone. That’s a fool’s policy — verification of public actions — true accountability — is necessary for a free, well-ordered society.
Over at Wired‘s Danger Room, there’s a disturbing account of the use of a taser on a seventy-two year old woman, entitled Raw Video: Cop Tasers 72 Year-Old Granny “
In a speeding case!
Two video clips accompany the story. In the first, from a news station, there’s an interview with both the taser victim and representative of the department (from Texas). As Danger Room notes, the constable’s description seems almost reasonable.
That’s until one relies not on a self-interested account from a defensive department, but sees instead the actual dash camera footage of the arrest, and use of the taser, on the diminutive senior citizen.
Then, seeing the event unfold directly, free from official sophistry, one sees the truth — the use of a taser here is grossly wrong. There’s no reasonable justification for any official to use force as this officer did, on this suspect.
That’s why dash cams are a good idea, and sometimes a necessity – they show the truth apart from official explanations that way be mistaken — or deliberately wrong.
A strong, well-ordered department will always invite verification.
First — the news report, with the official justification for use of a taser on a seventy-two year old speeder —
Then — the actual footage of the event, free of mere official characterizations and declarations of legitimacy —
Dash cams are instruments of integrity, honesty, accountability, and fairness.