We've written a lot here at Ars about how video surveillance has captured cops doing bad things. We cover this area because the technology of body cams, Taser cams, dash cams, and even images taken by bystanders has changed our perspective on police behavior that would likely have been swept under the rug previously.

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But this surveillance technology also captures officers who, in the words of a local Cleveland county prosecutor, have acted with "remarkable restraint." In this instance, body cam footage of several Cleveland patrol officers shows them doing everything they could to convince a man to put down his weapon.

Police came to visit Theodore Johnson's Cleveland residence after his wife claimed he threatened to kill her. The man had already shot one officer, striking the chest of a patrolman David Muniz's ballistic vest. "I know you shot me, but I'm not going to shoot you," Muniz tells the 64-year-old Johnson, according to police body cam footage taken at the scene.

Johnson replies, "Do what you do, man," according to the video.

According to the tape, Muniz tells Johnson, "Put the gun down. We don't want to kill you. Just drop the gun."

"I wanna die," Johnson replies, according to the tape.

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"No, you don't want to die," Muniz replies, according to the tape.

Officers are overheard telling Johnson they will get him some help. He says he doesn't want it, according to the tape. He raises his weapon, and the police open fire, killing Johnson on March 11.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty released the tape Wednesday. The day before, a grand jury concluded that the shooting was justified.

"The evidence shows the officers showed remarkable restraint and went above and beyond the call of duty to seek a peaceful conclusion,” McGinty said in a statement. "These Officers are commended for responding with courage and for heroically fulfilling their duty to protect the public."