| If in the past year's camera phones were just | | | | nowadays that is already capable of taking good |
| use for capturing funny and charming events. | | | | photos in daylight and then there's also an |
| Today, it became a powerful community tool in | | | | Internet that could get your photos out there |
| the debate about police conduct and crime | | | | anytime, anywhere. |
| resolution. | | | | L.A. Police Chief William Bratton added that he is |
| Some Los Angeles political groups are starting to | | | | investigating officer conduct from the three cell |
| train citizens to use cameras, video cell phones | | | | phone videos that is just recently captured, but |
| and Internet sites like YouTube, Metacafe, | | | | warned against quick conclusions that he cannot |
| Myspace and the like to get their voices and | | | | just make judgments based solely on videos or |
| pictures heard like never before. | | | | portions of videos. |
| According to Sherman Austin, founder of Cop | | | | Moreover, Bratton also stressed that there is no |
| Watch L.A, they encourage everyone to have a | | | | U.S. government agency that has more policies, |
| camera on them at all times so if anything | | | | procedures, guidelines and independent oversight |
| happens it can be documented. The concept of | | | | when it comes to use of force than the LAPD. |
| patrolling the police is something that they are | | | | However, Executive director of the Southern |
| trying to press on as a form of direct action. | | | | California chapter of the ACLU Ramona Ripston |
| Moreover, three videos shot on cell phones | | | | stated that these latest incidents underline the |
| captured Los Angeles police officers using | | | | case for more citizen oversight. |
| excessive force to hold down black motorist | | | | On the other hand, CNN launch a report regarding |
| Rodney King. The video images were captured by | | | | 15-year-old boy that used his Sprint cell phone |
| an Argentine plumber which brings up evidence | | | | camera to take pictures of a man who allegedly |
| that Rodney King was indeed beaten by four | | | | tried to lure him into his car. Such pictures lead to |
| police officers. All said three videos came out | | | | the man's arrest. |
| within the same week. | | | | The said boy, who escaped from his alleged |
| For about 15 years later there are video cameras | | | | captor after a struggle, gave the pictures of the |
| in tens of millions of cellular phones that people | | | | man and his car license plate to police in Clifton, |
| are carrying all day makes the documentation of | | | | New Jersey, after the incident. Thus, armed with |
| almost any public event easy to perform. As a | | | | that evidence, police officers arrested the suspect |
| result, Black and Latino activists in tough Los | | | | William MacDonald. |
| Angeles neighborhoods are leaving nothing to risk. | | | | Moreover after the incident, a spokeswoman |
| Furthermore, Austin added "We have tried civilian | | | | from Sprint, the manufacturer of the phone, says |
| review boards, we have tried going to City Hall | | | | the incident is the first time as far as the |
| and going to the police and all we have seen is | | | | company knows. "Someone has used the year-old |
| more brutality, technology makes it all the easier | | | | technology to foil a criminal" she added. |
| now". There are lots of digital cameras available | | | | |