Some Virginia localities already use police body cameras at their own discretion. But as more consider utilizing the tool, the state's Secure Commonwealth Panel is drafting recommendations to establish specific guidelines. However, the state ACLU has a little bit of a problem with how they're going about it.
This panel is comprised of teachers, public officials, lawmakers, and police. But questioning the panel’s level of transparency, the Virginia ACLU's Claire Guthrie Gastañaga says most of its public members were not available for this latest meeting, and some said they received later-than-usual notice of the final draft recommendations. She also had an interesting exchange with state Senator John Watkins, who says this is not the final draft, and the goal is to have public involvement.
Watkins says, “I think it’s been done on a local basis by a few select police departments. And by and large, they’ve done a pretty good job working with the public. Give us a chance – this is a statewide situation we’re looking at.”
Gastañaga replies, “I completely agree, and I also have always lived by the axiom that she who controls the first draft controls the last draft. And so if the first draft is very much developed by one side, then the other side is in a situation of having to shoot at it as opposed to being a partner in its development.”
Public Safety Secretary Brian Moran says more citizen stakeholders will be included before the final proposals are submitted to the governor and lawmakers. He adds that body cameras protect officers and seem to restore some community trust, so the panel wants to get it right. The next meeting – open to the public – is in November.
