There's a proposal in New York to mandate video cameras on police handguns.  New York has come under intense scrutiny for police shootings, and the rationale is that by recording when police have to use their guns, it will answer questions about whether fatal shootings were wrongful deaths or merited for self-defense.

I give this a qualified thumbs up.  Without question, we have seen just too damn many fatalities of both private citizens and police officers, many of which are fueled by the War on Drugs.  I recommend Reason magazine journalist Radley Balko's blog, whose work I've pimped on more than one occassion, for a documentation of "isolated incidents."  By requiring police officers and SWAT teams to record their work, we'd hopefully get answers once and for all as to the sort of tactics being employed during various raids and shootings, and whether law enforcement is acting within the law.

I say hopefully, because I'm afraid a law like this would eventually get watered down with so many exemptions as to make it practically impotent.  Plus, while law enforcement does get prosecuted for rogue behavior, that appears to be the exception more than it does the rule.  I'd also be curious if a judge would dismiss a case against a defendant accused of killing a cop because law enforcement didn't have their cameras on during the shooting.  Something tells me law enforcement would get the benefit of the doubt on that one.

Despite the concerns, I do think it is something strongly worth considering.  Anything that brings about accountability to law enforcement conduct is a benefit to citizens, and I would think to law enforcement as well, as it would erase doubts about police conduct when the police acted properly.  This isn't an end-all-be-all solution by any means, but it's definitely a start.