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Demand Police Body Worn Cameras NOW. Two Days of Action.

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Demand Police Body Worn Cameras NOW. Two Days of Action.

Hiruy Hadgu

Over the past year, I have been working as part of a group of concerned community citizens to call on the County Executive to implement a Police Body Worn Camera program (BWCs).

The Police Accountability Task Force (PATF) has a simple mission: in the wake of the George Floyd’s murder at the hands of police officers, we want to increase accountability of law enforcement.

While we do not consider BWCs as the panacea to eliminate or even reduce the risk of these killings, we consider them an essential part of corroborative evidence after an incident. Too many of the incidents become public only after a bystander takes out a cellphone and hits ‘record’.

On March 24, 2021, we were excited to hear County Executive Calvin Ball announce the launch of the program. Our excitement turned into anger, frustration, and disappointment on May 17, 2021, when the County Executive gutted the program.

We have not given up.

Our group is conducting an email blitz to call for an immediate implementation of the program.

If you live in Howard County, you can help.

Please take a few moments on either August 19 or 20 to send an email to each of our County leaders asking them to take the necessary measures NOW to fully fund the BWC Program:

  • Go to the link https://actionnetwork.org/letters/body-worn-cameras-in-hoco?source=direct_link&

  • When you fill in your name and address (note, you can opt out of any further communications).

  • After you hit the Start Writing button, you will see a form with suggested email language which you can accept as is or modify as you wish. The form will already have the email addresses for County Executive Calvin Ball and each County Council member.

  • Then hit the Send Email button. An email will automatically be sent to the County Executive and all members of the County Council.

  • Also, please feel free to share these instructions with others who are interested in the implementation of police body-worn cameras in Howard County and encourage them to participate.

Note that the “Two Days of Action” campaign comes just a few days after an officer-involved shooting in our County for which (inevitably due to our County Leaderships actions), there will be no body-worn camera footage.

This is inexcusable! Our Community needs BWCs NOW! Our law enforcement officers need BWCs NOW!

The failure of our County Leaders to fully fund the BWC Program NOW must not stand!