Obviously it is a whole new world out there for police officers.

The city of St. Petersburg has announced that for calls involving suspected mental illness, a social worker will be dispatched along with police officers. In some cases, the social worker may be dispatched by themselves. I can see some good in this concept. particularly in situations where police have been repeatedly called to the same residence for what is clearly a mental health issue. Perhaps the social worker will be better equipped to get the proper help for that person.

Whether you think the new culture of police accountability is a good thing or a bad thing, it is here to stay. The goal, of course, is for the police and the public to see each other as neighbors and have the facts well documented in police encounters.

The fact that police officers will have body cameras will change the way evidence is obtained and might, in some cases, make the prosecutors job easier.

The situation where police officers are arrested and prosecuted is not new – it just much more frequent in the new movement in transparency. hopefully this will help the public at large to develop confidence in the police department and being treated fairly.

Alexander Truluck focuses his practice as a criminal defense attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, Largo, Dunedin and the Tampa Bay area.

For more information, visit our website at http://www.criminallawyerclearwaterflorida.com
or call (727) 799-3550.