The third eye: Kansas begins the process of equipping police officers with body cameras

Kansas has taken a step in the pro­posed bill stating that all police officers would be required to wear a body camera while on duty. Both Wichita and Lenexa have started using the devices, and the college is now in the process of deciding whether to implement them as well.

While it is not yet a law requiring po­lice officers to do so, President Barack Obama has started a fund to push the is­sue at hand.

“My view is that body cameras pro­vide transparency in the law enforcement process and, in the overwhelming num­ber of cases, demonstrate that a profes­sional officer acted appropriately,” said board of trustee member Greg Musil.

The body camera’s main purpose is to allow all the officers’ interactions in the field to be recorded and stored in a data­base controlled by that police force. Dan Robles, Crime Prevention Officer at the college, has been an officer for 22 years and has experienced all the technological advances in the police force.

“[The body camera] is an idea that, when you look at the different instances that have happened around the United States with law enforcement, it would be another tool to help discern how inci­dents happen,” said Robles.

Robles believes the expense of the cameras is the largest issue at hand.

Each body camera will cost between $2,000 and $5,000 per officer. Because of the expense, not everyone in law enforce­ment will be wearing a body camera. The lifespan on any one camera is two to three years.

According to Molly Baumgardner, Journalism and Media Communications Coordinator and Kansas senator of the 37th district, the Kansas Senate bill states that the victim, the attorney and the par­ents of a minor will be the only individu­als with access to the recorded footage. As of now, footage would not be protected and would be up to the individual agen­cies to have policies protecting the foot­age.

If the House passes the bill that the Senate has already approved, then the bill will go to the governor for signature. Following this action, the above viewer regulation will be put into act for the state of Kansas.

“I think the camera is good protection for the citizen and the police at the same time,” said Robles. “Conversation and ac­tion are both being recorded, and if you think about it, film and video don’t lie.”

Officers will be required to turn the camera on following the exit of the police car. A handful of vendors are in the pro­cess of making a wide variety of cameras, including cameras that will mount on of­ficers’ eyewear.

“I caution everyone, though, that there are no magic answers in high-pressure, life-and-death split-second decision-making for law enforcement officers, however well trained they may be,” said Musil. “Cameras are typically more en­lightening and accurate than eyewitness accounts. but even with video, any inci­dent deserves careful and patient review without everyone taking sides.”