CPR Responds to NYPD Body Camera Policy

“The NYPD’s newly released body camera policy fails New Yorkers and police transparency – it won’t help address police brutality, abuses and unjust killings of New Yorkers. Body cameras are no solution or substitute for accountability, but they can enhance transparency – however critical flaws in the policy undermine efforts to hold police accountable for brutality, and instead provide mechanisms to protect abusive officers instead of the public. New York City should not deploy body worn cameras unless the significant flaws in the policy that undermine transparency and accountability are addressed.

 

“Officers are given far too much discretion and loopholes to not record, making it likely that most instances of police brutality that escalate quickly will not be recorded. While there’s a list of instances mandated for recording, there are important categories left out, including a mirroring of the NYPD’s continued efforts to dangerously erase records of what civilians experience as stops by exempting Level 1 encounters. Allowing officers who are the subject of investigations to view footage before making official statements, even in allegations of brutality and misconduct, demonstrates how the public interest is being put last. The NYPD also failed to include clear disciplinary policy for officers who do not comply and mandatory footage review of documented incidents by supervisors, despite recommendations by several organizations and the NYPD inspector general for such policies.

 

“It’s highly troubling that the public comment process also failed New Yorkers most impacted by abusive policing, choosing to prioritize restrictions to accommodate the NYPD instead of prioritizing meaningful input and influence from affected New Yorkers. This is not the way to advance police transparency and accountability and it’s shameful that the de Blasio administration is once again turning its back on New Yorkers affected by abusive policing.”

 

 

 

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