WASHINGTON,
D.C. (WJLA) - The D.C. Police Complaints Board (PCB) issued a report to Mayor
Vincent Gray, the City Council and the Metropolitan Police Department this week
recommending that body-worn cameras would be a big help in dealing with
complaints of police misconduct by the public.
"Body-worn
cameras can be used to resolve many of these types of citizen complaints,"
the PCB's statement, issued Thursday, read. "In addition, the presence of
body-worn cameras on officers may even help to prevent some negative
police-citizen interactions."
The
Board also recommended that, if implemented, MPD establish an advisory panel of
"key district stakeholders" to review footage.
"As
a result, the Department can ensure that a comprehensive policy governing video
creation, access, usage, and retention is developed and implemented in an
appropriate manner," the statement read.
The
PCB recommended that the advisory panel include, at a minimum, participants
from the Office of Police Complaints, MPD, the Fraternal Order of Police, the
Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, the
District’s Office of the Attorney General, representatives of the criminal defense
bar, the American Civil Liberties Union, and members of the Fair and Inclusive
Policing Task Force.
"The
panel should also include members of MPD’s Citizen Advisory Councils and
representatives from groups who may be under-reporting police misconduct,
including immigrants, non-English speakers, crime victims, and the LGBTQ
population.
The
Board further recommended that the district provide MPD with funding to conduct
the program.
The
PCB further proposed that the panel should evaluate the pilot program’s
effectiveness, while identifying any issues and recommending improvements. If
MPD and the panel determine the pilot program to be beneficial, the PCB
proposes that the district government provide funding for wider implementation.
“Police
wearing on-body cameras should produce a number of advantages,” said Philip K.
Eure, executive director of the Office of Police Complaints. “With the public’s
involvement in developing the program, the use of body-worn cameras can lead to
better police-community relations, improve officer training, and ultimately
enhance public safety.”