Body-Worn Cameras
Adopted at the 83rd Annual Meeting in 2015
WHEREAS, The United States Conference of Mayors Working Group of Mayors and Police Chiefs found that body-worn cameras (BWCs) can be an important tool, and funding to assist in purchasing cameras, providing training in and standards for their use, and appropriately storing data collected via cameras is essential if more departments are to be camera-equipped; and
WHEREAS, in its interim report, the President s Task force on 21 st Century Policing cited research which it described ashighly suggestive that the use of BWCs by the police can significantly reduce both officer use of force and complaints against officers, but also cited a 2014 report by the Police Executive Research forum, funded by the COPS office, which identified policy and implementation questions relating to the use of body-worn cameras:Body-worn cameras not only create concerns about the public s privacy rights but also can affect how officers relate to people in the community, the community s perception of the police, and expectations about how police agencies should share information with the public; and
WHEREAS, the President s Task force report also stated thatin a world in which anyone with a cell phone camera can record video footage of a police encounter, BWCs help police departments ensure that events are also captured from an officer s perspective. But when the public does not believe its privacy is being protected by law enforcement, a breakdown in community trust can occur, and the Task force recommended that law enforcement agencies need to consider ways to involve the public in discussions related to the protection of their privacy and civil liberties prior to implementing new technology, as well as work with the public and other partners in the justice system to develop appropriate policies and procedures for use; and
WHEREAS, on December 1, 2014, President Obama proposed a three-year $263 million investment package to increase the use of body-worn cameras, including, a new Body Worn Camera Partnership Program which would provide a 50 percent match to states and localities that purchase body worn cameras and requisite storage, specifying that the proposed $75 million investment over three years could help purchase 50,000 body worn cameras; and
WHEREAS, on May 1, 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the first phase of that program, making $17 million available to law enforcement agencies to develop, implement and evaluate BWC programs,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors believes that body-worn cameras can be an important tool, that the decision to deploy them must be a local one, and that police departments need federal assistance in purchasing cameras, providing training in and establishing standards for their use, and appropriately storing data collected via cameras; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors calls on Congress to provide at a minimum the funding requested by the President for the Body-Worn Camera Partnership Program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors calls for increased federal funding for research into the impact of body-worn cameras and for the development of body-worn camera technology.
Projected Cost: At least $75 million