KAILUA-KONA — Increasing use of police body cameras took another step forward Wednesday, when a bill governing their use was introduced.
KAILUA-KONA — Increasing use of police body cameras took another step forward Wednesday, when a bill governing their use was introduced.
Rep. Matthew LoPresti (D-Ewa, Oahu) introduced the bill, saying he wanted to begin the conversation on how cameras can be used.
“The fact of the matter is police officers are using body cameras every day,” LoPresti said.
Some Honolulu officers decided not to wait for their department and purchased them personally, using them on duty. This raises the possibility of litigation due to no solid policy, LoPresti said.
The Hawaii Police Department ran a pilot program with the cameras.
“Having not had the benefit to fully study the proposed measure and the entirety of the measure’s impacts, I do note there does not appear to be a funding component included in this legislation,” wrote Hawaii Police Maj. Samuel Thomas in an email.
They are continuing to study their use and do not have a projected date they may start. Thomas said part of that program “includes observing what else is done around the nation.”
LoPresti said the bill is a way to protect the public, state, department and officers by having clear rules about recording things. The bill requires officers to wear the camera at all times they are on duty, although when they are recording is limited. Officers are to turn them on when they respond to a call for service, or make a law enforcement or an investigative encounter with the public. The camera is then to run until the interaction is complete and the officer leaves.
It’s to be turned off in a number of events. If an officer goes into a home without a warrant or exigent circumstances, they are to ask the occupant if they want the camera turned off. If the occupant says ‘yes,’ the officer is to turn it off.
That is also the policy for interviewing victims and people reporting crimes anonymously.
One clause protects people involved in First Amendment speech from being filmed, a concern brought from the use of cameras on the Mainland, LoPresti said. There were reports that the films were being analyzed to determine who was present.
The only department that requires them is Kauai. LoPresti introduced the bill at the same time as one to protect student privacy and another to prevent companies from gaining access to employee’s private social media accounts.
Police are not to record surreptitiously, during non-law enforcement action and on school grounds without an imminent threat.
The bill follows with the ACLU’s interest in privacy, as anyone who is the subject of a video can exempt it from being made public. A message with the ACLU was not returned.