RTDNA calls for more transparency on police body cameras

RTDNA Executive Director Dan Shelley is calling on lawmakers to allow for more access to video from police body cameras.

Shelley writes that access to police body camera video varies by jurisdiction and that many states are taking up the issue legislatively. The RTDNA was involved in opposing legislation on this issue in Massachusetts.

In Wisconsin, a Legislative Study Committee examined the issue and proposed legislation. The study committee proposed, in part, that video footage from police body cameras be treated as all other public records in Wisconsin, but that records custodians may take into consideration the privacy of witnesses or victims in deciding whether to release a video. The legislation also calls for the use of redaction to maximize compliance with open records requests.

A public hearing has yet to be scheduled for the body camera legislation.