Seattle's Community Police Commission, the civilian organization developed to recommend reforms to the Seattle Police Department, released a statement Thursday suggesting that the SPD delay rolling out the body worn camera program. "Because body camera programs are already being implemented in law enforcement agencies across the state," reads the statement, "and this is a new technology which may have unintended consequences of significance to communities across the state as well as in Seattle, the CPC believes it is premature to implement a body camera program in Seattle until and unless state laws are modified to address complex privacy and public disclosure concerns."
Although the statement does not cite specific concerns, they are most likely referring to Tim Clemans' blanket request for every video recording from departments across the state, chronicled in Crosscut last fall. They may also be referring to questions surrounding the city's recent privacy initiative as well as a privacy ordinance from 1979 which requires an auditor to review material that may contain sexual, political or religious content -- an impossible task considering the sheer amount of information collected. "For many," the statement continues, "the purpose of this new technology is to provide another tool that can help strengthen public trust in law enforcement by improved accountability; it would be unfortunate if by not striking the right balance, instead community trust was undermined."
