Body Camera Bill Advanced Through Senate Subcomittee
[gtxvideo vid=”afpvxUBG” playlist=”” pid=”rkijshg2″ thumb=”http://player.gtxcel.com/thumbs/afpvxUBG.jpg” vtitle=”Senate Body Cameras”]
Columbia , S.C. (WOLO) — A Senate subcommittee unanimously voted Wednesday to advance a bill that would require officer body cameras statewide. “Over the past couple of days we have witnessed and the world has witnessed what has happened in South Carolina,” said Senator Marlon Kimpson. Following the fatal shooting of Walter Scott in North Charleston, Wednesday morning a Senate subcommittee unanimously voted in favor of a bill that will require officer body cameras statewide. “The body cameras, I wish we didn’t need them, but we do,” explained Senator Gerald Malloy. If the bill passes this session, it gives a council of law enforcement leaders six months to create general guidelines and procedures for the use of body cameras. Then local agencies will tailor those guidelines into individualized policies for their departments. “It can’t be one size fits all, I think we acknowledge that and recognize that,” explained Senator Greg Hembree. “Different communities, different size departments, different resources in those departments are going to impact what policies will work best in those local agencies.” While lawmakers are still determining exactly how to tackle the cost, the bill creates a fund to help local agencies implement the body camera initiative. “We have had mandates in the state that we don’t supply for, but this is too critical because we have to end up saving lives,” said Senator Malloy. Several testimonies also focused on privacy concerns and when recorded video can be requested by the public. “We want to ensure that law enforcement agencies will be able to continue to enforce the law rather than being forced to respond to excessive or abusive FOIA requests,” said Jarrod Bruder from the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association. The bill will go before a full Senate committee next week. Legislatures said if they are able to get adequate funding, South Carolina could start seeing cameras on cops by next year.
