He proposed a camera-and-training plan with a bill of $263 million. This is expected to help improve relations between police departments and minority communities. The program will need, however, congressional approval. “This is not a problem just of Ferguson, Missouri. This is a national problem,” Obama said. His argumentation is sustained by the advocates. It is believed that body cameras would give investigators an unbiased recording of any officer-involved incident rather than relying on the testimony of the officers themselves. On the other part, the President asked more transparency from police even in its normal activities. Obama’s proposal would provide a 50 percent federal match for local police departments to purchase body cameras. This program is expected to be included in the 2015 budget. Some military-grade equipment will be also transferred to local police departments.
