In 2010, a technology that would forever change the landscape of law enforcement in America began to gather serious momentum. This came in the form of body-worn cameras - a small device affixed to an officer's uniform that records their interactions with the public.

The idea was not entirely novel; dashboard cameras had been in use in police cars for years, serving as silent witnesses to roadside encounters. However, the shift to portable, officer-worn devices marked a significant step towards increased accountability and transparency in law enforcement.

The United Kingdom was the first Western country to implement a large-scale body camera program. This move came following the tragic events of July 2005, when Jean Charles de Menezes was wrongfully identified as a terrorist and shot dead by police in a London subway.

In the aftermath of the incident, the British Government commissioned a study to identify methods of improving transparency in law enforcement. The study, published in 2007, suggested that body-worn cameras could help achieve this goal. The recommendation was made based on the cameras' ability to provide an objective record of events and thus offer an immediate response to any allegations of police misconduct.

Two years later, in 2009, the new technology was put to its first real test in the United States. The city was Aberdeen, South Dakota, where the local police force decided to equip every officer with a wearable camera.

The decision came as a part of an initiative championed by the then-Police Chief, Dave McNeil. The stated objective was to increase transparency between law enforcement and the community. In a statement to local press, McNeil said, "It's about legitimacy. With these cameras, we can show that we're doing our jobs properly."

McNeil's experiment marked the beginning of a wider adoption of body cameras across America. By the end of 2010, over twenty police departments were using the technology, signifying a radical departure from traditional policing methods and signalling the advent of a new era in law enforcement.

However, body cameras at this early stage were not without their pitfalls. For instance, the footage obtained was not always clear, sometimes making it difficult to discern particular events or individuals. Additionally, the logistics of storing vast amounts of digital data posed an unprecedented challenge for police departments. Nevertheless, these issues didn't dampen the growing enthusiasm for the devices.

The turning point for body cameras came in 2014 when the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a Ferguson, Missouri police officer sparked a national outcry. The event led to demands for reforms that included mandating the use of body cameras for all uniformed police officers.

Since their adoption, body cameras have had a profound impact on policing. They've illuminated many aspects of law enforcement that were previously hidden from the public view. They've facilitated improved police-community relations, deterred the use of excessive force, and expedited judicial processes.

However, they have also spawned a host of new questions related to privacy rights, access to footage, and the use of the technology beyond its original intended purpose. Various interest groups have surfaced to champion these causes, marking the next frontier in the debate around body cameras.

As we look back on those early years of police body cameras, it's clear that they have immeasurably altered our expectations of law enforcement. They have become a common feature of the modern policing landscape, quietly recording the interactions that transpire on our streets.

The introduction of body cameras marked a significant shift in policing. It was a pivot towards a more transparent and accountable system - a change that was long overdue. The first steps were taken in 2010 and now, a decade later, these devices are part of the new normal in policing. As we move forward, it's crucial that we continue to evaluate the impact of this technology and work towards refining its use in our pursuit of a more equitable society.