With more attention to problems in police-community relations around the country, one change that nearly everyone agrees on in the Granite State is the need for more body cameras. We'll discuss a bill that proposes rules for New Hampshire law enforcement that may opt to use the technology, addressing questions of privacy, effectiveness, storage, protocol, and cost.
GUESTS:
- Devon Chaffee, executive director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, which filed an amicus brief in support of the disclosure of police videos depicting the events surrounding the fatal police shooting of Hagen Esty-Lennon in the town of Bath.
- Renny Cushing, Democratic Representative from Hampton and co-sponsor of a bill that would regulate a law enforcement agency’s use of body-worn cameras. He is also a vice chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures' Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.
- Chief Glen Drolet, Northwood Police Chief and First Vice President of the New Hampshire Chiefs of Police.
- David Hilts, attorney for the New Hampshire Department of Safety.
Read more:
- The bill language was being amended to a separate bill, in order to avoid association with the original prime sponsor, Kyle Tasker.
- An Exchange show about policy body cameras from 2015
Show Highlights:
Statewide rules will provide uniformity & guidance to local PDs on when & how body cams will be used- @rennycushing. https://t.co/AcVGZOwkJQ
— The Exchange (@NHPRExchange) April 18, 2016
Body cameras aren't a silver bullet, but they can be a strong tool for accountability w/ sound policies- @ACLU_NH. https://t.co/AcVGZOwkJQ
— The Exchange (@NHPRExchange) April 18, 2016
Police body cameras won't solve community distrust from police violence, but it's one tool - @ACLU_NH D Chaffee. https://t.co/AcVGZOwkJQ
— The Exchange (@NHPRExchange) April 18, 2016
Northwood Chief Drolet: body cameras have had a positive effect in his dept- it levels playing field; calms everyone https://t.co/AcVGZOwkJQ
— The Exchange (@NHPRExchange) April 18, 2016
It can be hard for folks looking at footage afterward to understand what the officer experienced- D Hilts, NHDOS https://t.co/AcVGZOwkJQ
— The Exchange (@NHPRExchange) April 18, 2016
Northwood Chf Drolet: in 2 yrs, no one has asked an officer to turn cam off; everyone wants to be reprsntd correctly https://t.co/AcVGZOwkJQ
— The Exchange (@NHPRExchange) April 18, 2016