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Walter Scott Shooting Pushes Ex-NYPD Chief to Reverse Stance on Body Cams

© YouTube/iNewsSouth Carolina Cop Faces Murder Charge After Video Shows Fatal Shooting
South Carolina Cop Faces Murder Charge After Video Shows Fatal Shooting - Sputnik International
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It took the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man in the back by a white police officer in South Carolina to get former New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly to backtrack on earlier statements opposing mandatory body cameras on police officers.

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It took the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man in the back by a white police officer in South Carolina to get former New York City police commissioner Ray Kelly to backtrack on earlier statements opposing mandatory body cameras on police officers.

Kelly said it looks like there was "inappropriate use of force and evidence was planted," in comments he made on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos, adding that the video "definitely" changed his mind about the use of body cameras.

© AP Photo / Stuart Ramsom Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly
Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly - Sputnik International
Former NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly

"We have to assume that this officer would not have acted in the way he did if in fact he had a body camera that was recording."

Walter Scott of North Charleston, South Carolina, was fatally shot on April 4 by Officer Michael Slager during a traffic dispute. Slager said Scott tried to reach for his taser and that he shot him because he felt his life was in danger, but a video of the incident revealed that Slager shot him several times in the back as he ran away, also showing what looked like Slager planting the taser near Scott’s body. Slager was subsequently fired from the department and charged with murder.

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Kelly called the video "a game changer," saying: "Here we have a 70-second video that lays out the whole scenario. What you will now see is many more police departments go to body cameras. There are issues with it, there are problems with it, but this trumps all of those problems. I have changed my mind on it (using them)."

Scott’s death is now the subject of an FBI investigation.


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