Originally published by the Inlander (http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/archives/2014/07/16/center-for-justice-others-voice-new-concerns-with-spd-body-cam-policy)
Posted By Jacob Jones on Wed, Jul 16, 2014 at 5:16 PM
Police accountability advocates today voiced several new concerns about the Spokane Police Department’s proposed usage policy for officer-worn body cameras, taking issue with vague recording requirements and a perceived lack of public input.
The Center for Justice issued a letter dated July 16, also signed by the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane and other local groups, saying advocates found the latest draft policy insufficient to ensure body cameras would provide reliable oversight.
“Unfortunately,” the letter states, “the current version of the policy supports a purpose mostly of discretionary surveillance, not of transparency and accountability.”
A promotional photo of the chest-mounted Taser Axon Body camera Spokane Police will start wearing in September.
Advocates expressed the most concern with the rules defining what and when an officer must record. The proposed policy says “most” police encounters “shall” be recorded, but a section specifically listing many common, required interactions was removed. Read more >>