There was a police shooting on New Year’s Day by a transit officer. The shooting, which seems totally unjustified, was filmed by several people with cell phones and the video is now prompting angry protests in Oakland. The officer worked for the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. He resigned Wednesday.

In the past, the police usually received the benefit of the doubt in cases of conflicting testimony. Now that cell phone cameras are common and rolling, more people are going to be skeptical of police accounts and reach their own conclusions. There is also going to be more accountability when police commit crimes or enagage in other misconduct — and that is a very good thing.

Related Cato work here.