President Obama has pleged $263 million in federal funding for nation-wide police training and 50,000 body cameras, the White House announced today.
The training portion of the funds will be designated to the instruction of police in responsible use of paramilitary equipment such as assault rifles, expanded riot gear, and armored trucks.
In the aftermath of the death of Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager killed by police in Ferguson, Mo., Mike’s parents have led a campaign ‘to ensure that every police officer working the streets in this country wears a body camera,’
Just last week, police shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice — prompting an even greater demand for increased video documentation of police activities.
It’s a start. Let’s just pray we can get these police departments to actually use the cameras.
[via The Verge]
