In the world of law enforcement, controversial events have shaped the trajectory of policy and implementation of tools that ensure accountability. The Eric Garner case serves as a paradigm of this unfolding reality. Garner's life abruptly ended in July 2014, during an encounter with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). This event sparked public outcry, generating a set of crucial discussions about policing practices, particularly the value of body cameras. The question for this piece seeks to delve into what might have been different if body cameras were involved in the panoramic frame of the Eric Garner case.

The incident began when police officers approached Garner for allegedly selling single, untaxed cigarettes, known colloquially as "loosies." A heated verbal exchange transpired, leading to a physical altercation. Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed Garner in a chokehold, a maneuver banned by the NYPD. Minutes later, Garner gasped his final words, "I can't breathe"-a phrase that later became the rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.

At the time of the Eric Garner case, the NYPD had not adopted the use of body cameras. While a passerby recorded Garner's encounter with Officer Pantaleo, the footage only captured part of the event. Beyond sparking outrage and fuelling protest movements, the incident intensified public demand for police accountability, underlining the potential role of body camera programs in law enforcement agencies.

Body-worn Cameras (BWCs) offer an unbiased, first-hand perspective of police-citizen interactions. They contain both audio and video evidence, enabling the public and court officials to view incidents from a police officer's perspective. Critics argue that the availability and analysis of this footage are subject to management controls. However, this powerful tool, if managed appropriately, can be a significant force toward accountability and transparency.

In tackling the subject of Eric Garner, a relevant question arises-how would the presence of body cameras have impacted the narrative and aftermath of this case? Given the circumstances, we can conceive three crucial changes.

First, an official account from the NYPD's perspective would be available. The lack of this perspective cultivates suspicion and doubt, and whereas an unofficial video recording captured the encounter, it left room for interpretation, questioning, and skepticism. A police body camera could have provided an unfiltered and accurate portrayal of events leading to the incident and the incident itself.

Second, body cameras could have demonstrated the implementation or neglect of proper police procedure. With Officer Pantaleo employing a chokehold, the compliance or non-compliance with department policy became a significant point of contention. The presence of body cameras could have delivered indisputable evidence regarding breach of protocol, leading to quicker resolutions in trial proceedings.

Finally, body cameras could have influenced the behavior of everyone involved. Research shows that awareness of recording impacts individual conduct. Hence, both Garner and the police officers, knowing they were being recorded by an 'official source,' might have acted differently.

The sad reality is that Eric Garner is gone, and contemplating the hypotheticals will not bring him back. However, Garner has not died in vain. His death, part of a series of unfortunate incidents, indeed fueled an outcry for police reform and renewed the pressing demand for police body cameras.

Fast forward to the present, the use of body cameras is now standard procedure in many law enforcement agencies, including the NYPD. Viewed through this lens, Garner's demise has contributed significantly to pushing for more transparent, responsible, and accountable policing approaches. It's a grim silver lining, but one that has drawn the public's attention to significant flaws within the system and propagated measures to fix them.

As we move forward, the necessity for body cameras in modern-day policing continues to strengthen. However, the fight for accountable policing doesn't end with body cameras. Continued dialogue and proactive efforts to reform law enforcement are required, with attention towards policy review, police education, and community involvement. Garner's case serves as a harsh reminder of what's at stake. It compels societies around the world, especially in the US, to continue striving for the broad-scale changes required in the way policing is approached and undertaken.

Eric Garner's story and the lesson it schools us in are integral to our pursuit of more transparency in law enforcement. It serves as a reminder of the responsibilities law enforcement officers bear and the extent to which body cameras can ensure they uphold these responsibilities. Garner's echo, "I can't breathe," is not merely a final plea but a call to action. An action for reform, for more accountability, and for a system where another Eric Garner incident is impossible.