Letter to the Editor: No good can come from rangers wearing body cameras

It concerns me that the City of Albany is going to unleash body cameras on our city rangers, and on the law abiding citizens of Albany.

There can be no positive outcomes for this step.

Body cameras are rightfully worn by law enforcement people — those people who are at risk because of their job to enforce the law.

Rangers should never place themselves in positions where they are in danger. They should be trained to withdraw long before the possibility of danger.

Law enforcement is for the police, not for City of Albany rangers.

If a circumstance cannot be de-escalated then the ranger needs to withdraw.

Placing body cameras on City of Albany employees elevates in their mind that they are similar to police officers.

They are not — not in job description, not in ability, not in training.

If a City of Albany employee finds themselves in a circumstance that requires enforcement of the law, they need to call the police.

They should never be doing anything beyond giving out fines in the post.

They should be trained in the art of verbal engagement with a view to de-escalating a situation rather than having the mindset reinforced by the “body cam” perspective of gathering evidence to punish a wrong doer.

We live in Australia.

Please do all in your sphere of influence to reduce the chance of harm to our City of Albany employees.

Please do all in your sphere of influence to push back against this intrusion into the Australian way of life.

Have something to say? Send your letter to the editor to news@albanyadvertiser.com.au.