Police reform group makes policy recs to city for body cameras
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On January 28, 2015, the Rochester Coalition for Police Reform (CPR) held a press conference announcing CPR-created policy recommendations for the use of police body worn cameras (BWCs).
"Prior to the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, MO, and afterwards, the United Christian Leadership Ministry and the Rochester Coalition for Police Reform held several meetings with Mayor Warren, City Council President Loretta Scott, and City Council Public Safety Committee Chairman Adam McFadden to explore ways of improving community / police relations," said Rev. Lewis Stewart, co-chair of CPR. "In our own metropolitan area, Gates has body cameras but has no coherent policies; Greece lacks cogent policies--without policies, you may as well not have any body cameras."
Watch the press conference from January 28, 2015
The policy recommendations were forwarded to the Rochester Police Department, Mayor Lovely Warren, and members of Rochester City Council for consideration as they work toward a policy regulating the use of BWCs in Rochester.
CPR created the recommendations over the course of several months and many meetings.
"This is a process that took several months where we reviewed other policies across the U.S. We looked at white papers and guidance from different legal experts on body cameras and took into consideration the unique needs that we have in Rochester," said KaeLyn Rich, co-chair of CPR. "We came to consensus on these recommendations for body worn camera policy in the city of Rochester."
There was some tension in the group regarding the creation of the policies. That tension fluctuated between policy that was likely to be adopted by the city and policy that was too one-sided.
"It is not a magic bullet. However, we view police body cameras and police dashboard cameras as significant tools to reshape overall police / community relations," Rev. Stewart said. "The guidelines that we have developed cover categories from activation to privacy, retention, and civilian oversight as well as others."
View the CPR-created body worn camera recommended policies
CPR's goals related to the use of body worn cameras are 1) they reduce crime, 2) they reduce excessive use of force by the police, 3) they improve relationships between the police and the community, 4) they provide safety for the public as well as the police through police accountability, 5) the cameras provide the opportunity for the public to file claims against officers who perpetrate dehumanizing, racist behaviours, and use excessive force against them, and 6) the cameras are good for officers and the city.
"We have an opportunity to help set model policy if the city were to implement some of the suggestions we make here," said Ms. Rich. "One of the challenges of body cameras, as we acknowledge that this technology may be a win-win for everyone, is that in looking at body camera policies across the U.S. we found that very few of them have any policy at all."
CPR is currently developing the Community Safety Agenda using the Community Safety Act of New York City as a model of a law that was passed a little over a year ago. Aside from police body worn cameras, CPR's Community Safety Agenda also includes the creation of an independent civilian review board with subpoena power and investigative authority, the end of stop and frisk policies, which includes ending racial profiling, a right to consent to search policy, and anti-racism training for officers.
The press conference was held at Downtown United Presbyterian Church.
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