Police Body Camera Bill Moves Forward

A bill that would impose some controversial new rules regarding police body cameras has taken a key step toward becoming law.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 5 to 1 Tuesday to approve a measure which would set the same guidelines for all law-enforcement officers across California who wear body cameras.

Several law enforcement groups are criticizing one specific provision. It states that when a peace officer is involved in a use of force incident resulting in injury or death the officer won't be able to see the recording until after making their initial statement.

"I'm really concerned,” said independent police auditor Judge LaDoris Cordell. “Police say ‘no we don't want this.’ What are you afraid of? There's an incident you record it. You speak truthfully about what happened and then the video can be viewed but not before."

Judge LaDoris Cordell is San Jose's independent police auditor. She's been pushing for Officer body cams for several years and says the recent officer-involved shootings across the country that have been recorded help support the need for this type of equipment. She has obtained a copy of the police report from the officer involved shooting in South Carolina.

Tom Saggau with the San Jose Police Officer’s Association would say only that this state assembly measure is in the very early stages.

"We will see how it meshes with the officer Bill of Rights. We will be monitoring the legislation as it goes through the process,” he said.

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