In the wake of the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, over the shooting of an unarmed black man by police, a discussion on ways to promote racial justice was held at UB Wednesday.
A few dozen people, mostly students, attended the discussion in UB's Student Union.
An audience member asked the panel if body cameras would help curb police brutality.
Partnership for the Public Good Co-Director Sam Magavern says research shows body cameras reduce the use of force by officers. And Magavern says cameras result in fewer misconduct charges.
"Once the officers are wearing them they tend to be popular with the officers as well. Partly because they then have proof when they did not do something wrong. So the good officers actually like them," Magavern said.
University at Buffalo Deputy Police Chief Joshua Sticht says body cameras are a valuable, though reactionary, tool. Sticht says they won't fix anything without first correcting underlying cultural issues.
"If you have an officer that is borderline or an officer that might be someone that would do something wrong, they know the ways around cameras."
Urban Christian Ministries program director Curtis Alford says he doesn't think body cameras will make a bit of difference either. Alford says improving relationships across the entire community has to come first.