El Paso police have few body cameras as part of their equipment
EL PASO, Texas -- Protests over George Floyd's death while in Minneapolis police custody are growing throughout the country, including in El Paso.
While recent demonstrations remained largely peaceful, protestors have clashed with police in past protests.
Police say they were provoked, while protesters say police provoked them. So far, claims have remained one side says this, the other side says different.
City and county leaders are now calling for accountability and transparency saying police body cameras can shed light on what really happens.
El Paso city Rep. Henry Rivera, a retired police officer himself, says police should be equipped with body cameras. Currently, El Paso police have few body cameras as part of their equipment.
One such law enforcement agency that currently arms deputies with body cameras is the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. Meantime, neighboring Dona Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart is asking for body cameras for her deputies.
El Paso County Commissioner Carlos Leon, a former El Paso police chief and 30-year law enforcement veteran, made this keen observation: "If you look at the murder of Mr. Floyd, you will notice that other law enforcement officers , police officers, had cameras. Yet we have not seen one frame, ugh, footage of that. I think that law enforcement agencies need to be much more transparent."
