Police body cams are needed

As this newspaper reported in our front-page story this week, the City of Kasson is discussing the possibility of adding body worn cameras for its police department.
This newspaper fully commends those in the city administration, including the police chief, for supporting the measure.
Body cameras work both ways. Minnesota has seen multiple disgraced police officers arrested, charged, and convicted for killing people, including George Floyd, who was murdered by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, five years ago.
Make no mistake, without cell phone footage, and then the body cam footage, it’s likely Chauvin may have not been convicted or even charged. It’s possible he might still be a cop.
The opposite can also be true.
In 2024, this state saw charges dropped against a Minnesota State Patrol Officer who fatally shot a motorist during a traffic stop.
Without footage, it’s likely the outcome would be different.
The idea of body cameras has become more prevalent since the murder of George Floyd, but it’s not a brand new concept.
For example, the Steele County Times, the sister paper to the Dodge County Independent, is running a history brief this week about the debate over body cameras from a decade ago, in Blooming Prairie.
Body cams can be used for a number of different purposes.
For example, Kasson Police Chief Josh Hanson explained to the city council how cameras can be used to show a jury what the scene was like when an officer responded to a domestic violence call.
Right now, without cameras, the Kasson Police Department does not have that to show juries.
This newspaper also supports the police department’s expertise in a matter like this.
Police officers are the ones who will be wearing the cameras while working and will be the ones responsible for them.
The fact that the sworn police officers in the City of Kasson have raised their hands and agreed to having cameras should be enough.
It’s unfortunate the city administrator claims publicly to have “reservations” about body cameras.
This newspaper tried reaching out to him, but he is out of office until Friday.
Unfortunately, he was not transparent and did not address those concerns publicly during the meeting, and instead, he made note that he did at a previous meeting.
This newspaper fully supports the police department in its efforts to have body-worn cameras and is hopeful the rest of the city officials will get on board with something long overdue.