“We used to watch my father, who was a civil-rights activist, get arrested on TV …” — Maya Wiley

Lifting the veil of secrecy that shrouds police misconduct allegations would seem like an obvious democratic value. After all, if police work for the people, should they not be answerable to the people, as well? This is a basic tenet of good government.

Democrats and Republicans agree that police misconduct should be better tracked. But agreement appears to end there.

Considering that police have life and death power over the public they are sworn to protect and serve, we have the right to expect public accountability to ensure that we can protect ourselves, as well.

There are areas of tension and uncertainty the Constitution doesn't address, and presidents of both parties have fought with Congress over their respective roles.