Southfield, MI personal injury attorney Johnny Hawkins talks about the trends he sees in police brutality cases. He observes that one of the most significant trends in recent years is the widespread availability of video evidence, whether from body cameras or civilians recording on their smartphones. He notes that in many cases, video provides an essential means of establishing the truth.

He highlights that incidents such as the George Floyd case illustrate the importance of civilian engagement in documenting law enforcement actions. According to him, the more that individuals use modern technology to record events, the more transparency and accountability can be achieved. Video evidence, particularly from smartphones, plays a crucial role in capturing an accurate account of events, especially when relying solely on officers’ accounts may not provide a complete or fully accurate picture.