Camera cell phones are allowing citizens to monitor, record behavior of law enforcement personnel

Cell phone cameras used to be toys for affluent teens and gadget hounds but have now become the standard fare of all cell phone-toting citizens -- and they are now becoming a powerful community tool in the debate about police conduct.
Some Los Angeles political groups are starting to train citizens to use cameras, video cell phones and Internet sites like YouTube to get their voices and pictures heard like never before.

Sherman Austin, founder of Cop Watch L.A., said, "We urge everyone to have a camera on them at all times so if anything happens it can be documented. The concept of patrolling the police is something we are trying to push as a form of direct action."