UK and its police department made the right call in buying body cameras for their police officers.

The amount and notoriety of police brutality in recent years has led to a nationwide call for these tools of accountability.

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s plan to give its officers body cameras was initially halted by questions of how much it would cost — UK paid about $29,000 for its body cameras — but the council approved its $600,000 purchase in late June.

UK’s plan has been in the works for nearly two years, and it provides enough cameras for every on-duty officer. The cameras strap to their uniforms, and officers will be required to turn them on whenever they interact with people.

“We were doing this way before Ferguson, researching them,” UK Police Chief Joe Monroe said. “It’s going to really make sure the officers … are really held to a higher standard.”

UK and Lexington should be applauded for these plans. Public officials authorized to use lethal force should be held to the highest standard.

Some UK Police officers were initially skeptical of body cameras, but the officers have grown to like them since their implementation in late July, Monroe said.

Body cameras obviously benefit the public, but they also benefit police officers. False complaints or untrue accusations against officers will now be more easily disproved.

UK has had few complaints of police brutality in recent years. Monroe could only recall one formal complaint, but it was dismissed after reviewing video evidence from an on-campus security camera.

Tragedies like the police shooting in South Carolina when officer Michael Slager gunned down Walter Scott as he was running away are now less likely, as officers will have to think twice about being quick on the trigger.

This is true especially considering video footage is what contradicted Slager’s account of the shooting, and is likely the only reason he was brought up on charges.

According to a year-long study performed by Police Foundation Executive Fellow Chief Tony Farrar, body cameras led to a 50 percent reduction in the use of force by the city police, and ten times fewer citizen complaints than in the year prior to the study.

Many major cities, such as Washington, D.C., Miami and Houston, have body cameras for their police departments. Others like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Louisville have plans to implement them.

Some major cities such as Boston and Kansas City, however, have no body cameras or any serious plans to buy them. This should be a no-brainer.

Critics of body cameras say they’re not a good use of police department’s limited resources, but these same police departments often have enough money to supply buy Humvees, riot gear and military equipment.

Police brutality is an unfortunate reality, and thanks to video evidence, it has recently been in the spotlight.

Most officers are morally upstanding people, but videos of police shootings show far too many cops being quick to shoot first, and serve and protect later.

opinions@ 50.63.25.108