The effects of technology on police brutality.

In recent years, the popularization of cell phones has made the documentation of police brutality a lot easier. A good example of this is the Eric Garner video which millions have seen. In the video Eric Garner is approached by police and responds with “what did I do”? Eric raises both hands and surrenders himself to the police. Under their custody he is held in a choke-hold muffling “I cant breath”. Moments later he lies on the floor motionless, presumably dead. Without the film provided by a bystander, a crime like this may have went noticed and the “I can’t breath” movement may have never went viral.

Technology can also protect an officer from wrongful accusations of police misconduct. For example a police car dash cam depicts Arizona police officer Michael Rapiejko, hitting a man who allegedly stole a rifle from a store. The man was acting irrational and was seen as a threat since the weapon was fully loaded and he was firing carelessly into the air. Needless to say deadly force was used properly in this situation.