HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 08-20 Minnesota Police Form Unified Front on Body Cam Video Release KSTP �zirzois KsTP.00m
KSTP-�� �EYEW/TNESS NEWS
Minnesota Police Form Unified Front on eody Cam Video
Release
UpCateO:08,�30/3015 10:13 PM KSTP.com By:KatM1ainelMnson
From surveillance videos to senior pictures,we can capture just
about anything on camera.However,now police are asking,"]ust
how much of that video does the public want released?" !
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"A police officer responding to a medical call today,in[his state, �,
that video would be largely available,"Maplewood Police Chief �
Paul Schnell said.
Photo:Pho<a:KSTF'Frle
Schnell gathered representatives from more than 20 departments
throughout the state behind dosed doors Thursday to brainstorm
a uniformed strategy tha[not only allows them to remain transparent with body camera video
requests but tha[would also protect someone like Emmalyn 8lomberg.
"I know there are things that have happened in my house that I just don't want everyone to
know about,"Blomberg said.
She says,recently,her family had to call police for help during a disturbance.If[he responding
officer has been wearing a body camera,her testimony and video inside her home would be
available to anyone who requested it.
"I wouldn't want the Deople that I work with to see that or just people I go to school with to see
that,"she said."It's kind of a thing that you want to keep private."
"The biggest concern would be that at the end of the day,somebody accesses[his public video
of a person having a mental health crisis,a problem with a child at home that becomes unruly
or whatever;and police are called or a medical incident that ultimately someone could come in
and say,'I want a bulk data request and ask for all kinds of video,'and just go through and
pick out the video tha['s most interesting and post that,"Schnell said.
Schnell ensures in a situation involving an officer discharging a weapon or a complaint of
excessive force,body cam video would absolutely become and remain public.
Maplewood hopes to have their own regulations in place before rolling out body cameres for the
entire department which i[plans to do by the end of the year.
If regulations aren't set by then,they'll prepare to respond to any and all requests.
Minneapolis is one of many cities that participated in Thursday's meeting.It's running its own
body camera pilot progrem with about SO officers wearing the gear day to day.
Just last month,the city auditor said Minneapolis is not prepared for the inevitable spike in
video requests that will most likely come once the full program goes live.
Right now,the city has two employees slated to handle all requestr and they are already
juggling about 10,000 data requests every month.
So far,there is no mandate on what incidents will be public and what will remain private.
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