Surveillance is the watchword of the 21st century. From the rise of CCTV footage to mobile frontline coverage, technology has permeated law enforcement, transforming how they operate. Among these innovations, body cameras worn by police officers have become a focal point. And while it may seem that this tool is universally utilized, the reality reveals a more complex scenario.

Not all officers don body cameras. Understanding why this disparity exists and jump-starting dialogue on its ramifications is a pivotal conversation in contemporary policing.

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) are small devices, like lapel pins, that record interactions between police officers and the public. The dual benefits of transparency and accountability that ensue have led to increased calls for their widespread adoption. Nonetheless, distribution remains uneven across the globe and even within the same country.

In the United States, the Bureau of Justice Statistics revealed that approximately 47.4% of general-purpose law enforcement agencies used BWCs in 2016. It is an increase from previous years but still far from universal implementation.

Various factors contribute to the preferential distribution of body cameras in police departments. One of the main stumbling blocks is the cost of the devices and their associated data storage, which can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars for larger departments.

In addition to cost, there's the wrangling with public and media perception. Skepticism around the selective use and footage manipulation, departments' resistance to releasing video content due to privacy concerns, only serve to make the issue more convoluted.

The dichotomy extends to how officers feel about these instruments. Some officers perceive the cameras as an assurance of truth that plants them on a leveled playing field with civilians. Conversely, others view these devices as intrusive surveillance that inhibits police work.

Amidst these misgivings, the fact remains that body cameras have led to significant changes in policing. Studies suggest that BWCs reduce the use of force and civilian complaints, which can be invaluable in a climate that increasingly demands police accountability and better relationships with the communities they serve.

However, it's essential to remember that body cameras are not a panacea for deeper entrenched issues within policing - racial disparities, use of excessive force, and systemic bias, to name a few. Cameras might provide objective eyes, but they don＊t replace the pursuit of systemic reform, or the greater need for community-based policing.

So, is the future of policing through a body cam lens? The jury＊s still out on that one. While the technology undoubtedly promises increased visibility, it isn't without its shortcomings.

Plus, policing doesn't happen in a vacuum. It's contingent on community trust, robust legislative policies, and accountability mechanisms. Any changes made to the system - be it the addition of new technology or new internal policies, should serve to boost these underlying factors.

In the end, while body cameras can offer added layers of protection and accountability for both the police and the public, the question still persists - 'Do all police wear body cameras?' The answer is a resounding no, but that doesn't mean we stop asking or striving for increased adoption.

The dialogue surrounding BWCs remains open, nuanced, and complex. As technology evolves, so will policing practices, and enmeshed in this volatile equation is the search for balance, equality, and justice.