Publication: Los Angeles Times
Endorsing a dramatic departure from decades of secrecy surrounding policing in the state, California lawmakers have moved to undo some of the nation’s strictest rules keeping law enforcement records confidential, particularly involving officer killings of civilians.
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Supporters said the legislation, Assembly Bill 748, was modeled on the Los Angeles Police Department’s recently implemented policy to release videos within a similar timeframe, adding that the increased public access also would better relations between law enforcement and communities.
“We have spent millions of dollars up and down the state in all our local jurisdictions to deploy body cameras and record the footage,” said Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). “This would provide greater transparency.”
Police groups argued that the plan would override the ability of departments to set their own rules for disclosure.
Lawmakers also worried that the measure didn’t give enough weight to the privacy interests of officers and the public.