When we agree

Take advantage of common ground

Once upon a long-ago time, Americans would take to the streets yelling, “Long live Congress!” That was before there was a United States. And those American colonials were trying to intimidate the Red Coats.

It’ll come as no surprise to know that there’s bickering in Congress again, this time over a police-reform bill. The Democrats have their version, the Republicans another. And both sides are spending a lot of oxygen criticizing all that’s wrong with the other party’s ideas.

But — and this might indeed come as a surprise — there is common ground. Both parties should take advantage when that happens.

For example, body cameras.

Of all the arguments about needed reforms in police departments today, we still haven’t heard a good argument against body cameras. It would seem that only police officers with bad intentions would be agin. For there are plenty of good cops who have complaints filed against them by people bent on intimidation or even fraud. A good cop should welcome body cameras. As should everybody who comes into contact with police.

If everybody knew that every cop had a camera pinned to their collar, or mounted on their hat, then we imagine there’d be fewer confrontations all around. Talk about a deescalation technique. It might be one of the better ones. For don’t we all act prettier, as mama used to say, when we’re being recorded?

Also central to a couple of police reform packages is this national database of police actions. More specifically, a database of use-of-force actions. From our story Friday:

“It’s a concept both parties support as a way to track potential police misconduct and ensure officers cannot simply transfer from one department to another without public disclosure of their records.”

The consultants call this type of stuff “low-hanging fruit,” because it’s easy. So why keep fighting?

Some Democrats, including the always unhelpful Sen. Chuck Schumer, say Republican efforts don’t go far enough. Republicans say Democrats want to hurt cops by removing so-called Qualified Immunity protections.

Here’s a suggestion: Fund body cameras and the national database now. Then tomorrow, congressional leaders can go back to fighting at dueling press conferences. That is, after doing some good for the country at a time when We the People really need it. cc: Arkansas’ congressional delegation