HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016 09-21 Maplewood Police Department proposes policy for expansion of body worn camera program MAPLEWOOD REVIEW
Maplewood Police Department proposes policy for
expansion of body worn camera program
Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/21/2016 - 12:00am
Maplewood Police Department is seeking community input regarding the purchase or implementation
of a body worn camera program.
Public comment will be accepted by mail, email and during the public comment period at a regular
Maplewood city council meeting.
The Maplewood Police Department has published a policy proposal, which is publically available on the
city’s website at www.maplewoodmn.gov/bwc. The webpage offers an e-form for submitting input,
feedback and commentary, as well as an email link.
In addition, the city council will be briefed on the proposed police body worn camera policy during a
council workshop session on Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. In addition to the policy briefing, three invited guests
will talk about the philosophical and practical application perspectives they represented on behalf of
their respective organizations during the 2016 legislative process.
The invited guests include: Yusef Mgeni from the St. Paul chapter of the National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People, Matt Ehling from the MN Coalition on Government Information
and Ben Feist from the MN chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. They will provide information
that they, and the organizations they represent, believe should be considered in the development of a
BWC program and program policy.
“While our invited speakers may take positions different than the department’s proposed policy
positions, we wanted to include the varied perspectives we heard during the legislative process” said
Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell.
During the regular city council meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. on Sept. 26, the council will hold a public
hearing at which time members of the public are invited to provide direct comment regarding
department-wide implementation of a BWC program, BWC program cost, program purpose, and
program policies.
Both the council workshop and the regular council meeting are video streamed in real time and
available for later review on the city’s website.
“I am proud that our police department has and continues to be open to scrutiny of its policy and
practice, including a willingness to actively invite diverse opinions,” said Maplewood City Manager
Melinda Coleman. “This level of openness models the city council’s strategic priorities around effective
governance and coordinated communications,” she added.