Measure is important tool to holding to improving accountability of law enforcement
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – State Rep. Brandon Ellington, D-Kansas City, today pre-filed legislation that would require all uniformed law enforcement officers to wear body cameras while on duty to record interactions with members of the public. Today is the first day lawmakers may file bills in advance of the 2016 legislative session, which begins Jan. 6.
“Body cameras are a vital tool for ensuring officer accountability,” Ellington said. “We have seen numerous incidents in recent years when the official police account clearing an officer of wrongdoing has been disproven by third-party video evidence. Mandatory body cameras will protect the public by discouraging bad behavior by police and providing evidence when it does occur. But cameras also will protect police against false claims. This is a common-sense accountability measure that must be implemented without further delay.”
Under House Bill 1516, officers would not be required to wear cameras while working undercover or in situations where doing so would endanger the safety of the officer or the public. The bill would set aside 5 percent of the fine revenue collected by a municipality or county to pay for the body cameras.
The measure is similar to House Bill 971 that Ellington filed last year.
