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It’s more than just body cams

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Illinois

* It is so very heartening to see law enforcement groups saying positive things about the police body cam bill, which has now passed both chambers. This appears to be a pretty darned good bill…

Officers who wear body cameras will be required to record any incident with the public. The only time they could cease recording is when interviewing a witness or victim. Personal and strategic conversations also merit turning the camera off. New training is also a cornerstone of the bill. […]

[Sean Smoot, chief legal counsel for the Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Association] said the training should leave officers better prepared to deal with the mentally ill, addicts and victims of abuse. Procedural training should create a better relationship with the public at large, he said.

“A member of the community should feel a certain level of comfort after interacting with an officer, whether they’re arrested or not,” he said.

Law enforcement groups are also pleased with the idea of having a database of officers who have been fired with cause or who resign during an investigation. The groups see it as a way to weed out bad police.

Most of the language is here. Cleanup is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Sunday, May 31, 15 @ 11:29 am

Comments

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Comment by Anonymous Sunday, May 31, 15 @ 12:57 pm
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Comment by Anonymous Sunday, May 31, 15 @ 12:58 pm
Not good to allow the cams to be turned off when interviewing witnesses (”victims” included). Let them know they’re being recorded, yes. But those initial statements are gold and ought to be preserved.

Comment by JoanP Sunday, May 31, 15 @ 5:25 pm
I agree with Joan. Believe it or not people lie sometimes! Would be nice to have a lie recorded to give the SA’s ammo to prosecute.

Comment by Pacman Sunday, May 31, 15 @ 5:32 pm