Our names are Whit Bentley, Akshay Padmanabhan, and Connor Ottati. We are concerned citizens from Martinez, California writing to you about what seems to be an increase in both police breaches of constitutional rights and police brutality throughout the country, specifically in the Bay Area. We are proposing that all members of the Martinez police force adopt the use of body cameras at all times. The cameras will help lessen the number of use of force incidents, and will provide both citizens and the law enforcement with explicit documentation of all incidents that occur.



Broken windows, damaged police cars, and burning buildings became a regular sight on the streets of Baltimore several weeks ago. This comes as no surprise after protests over the mysterious death of an African American man named Freddie Gray in police custody spiraled into riots. This reaction to a tragic death has proved harmful for the community while simultaneously staining the city of Baltimore and it’s reputation. The foggy set of circumstances surrounding Gray’s death could have been made clear if local police had been wearing body cameras of some sort. We see no issue more pressing than that of the current state of police accountability. In order to strengthen our community, we are proposing that all officers in the Martinez Police Department wear body cameras during their interactions with citizens. This action will not only hold officers accountable for their actions, but the cameras will also serve as a way to prove either party’s innocence. Also, it is likely that both parties will exercise more restraint and in turn safety if they are aware of the fact that they are being recorded.



According to the 2010 Census, the Martinez Police Department serves 37,165 residents through 24 Neighborhood Policing Areas. While the cameras made by Taser International cost approximately $1000 each, the benefits they provide community prove the price is well worth it. As of today, body cameras are being worn by officers in Livermore, Vallejo, Oakland, and other cities in the Bay Area. According to the CBS San Francisco local newsletter, ever since Oakland started using the body cameras in 2009, instances in which officers use force have dropped dramatically. In 2009, there were a reported 2196 cases of police violence, which dropped to 1945 cases in 2010, 1494 cases in 2011, and 1244 cases in 2012. These numbers were confirmed by former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, who said that there has been a “significant decrease” in use of force since body cameras have been implemented. Yet another example of when cameras have shown to be beneficial is in the town of Rialto, California. According to a report by Police Foundation, police complaints dropped nearly tenfold while police use of force was cut in half. According to the Martinez-News Gazette, the interim chief of police in Martinez, Eric Ghisletta has recently considered body cameras for officers saying, “It is a very hot topic in the law enforcement communities and we are looking into it.”



This may not seem like an important issue for a fairly affluent city with a relatively low crime rate such as Martinez, but unfortunately conflict between citizens and police can happen anywhere, even here. According to an ABC News article from 2012, a man in Martinez filed suit against the city for excessive force. It would be be a shame to tear our wonderful community apart with an issue that could be easily prevented with the use of police cameras. Furthermore, Martinez can provide an example for cities everywhere and prove that police provide a healthy and great service for communities everywhere. We must continue the legacy of our strong community for generations to come and invest in body cameras for the police force.