Top Cops Propose Accountability, But Seek Limits on Body-Cam Video

Many of their “Police 2.0” proposals unveiled during National Police Week call for increased accountability, but a trio of metro Detroit sheriffs think police body- and dash-cam video exposes police to mockery in “cheap reality TV” programs easily created by anyone with an Internet connection. (Photo via Creative Commons)

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Metro Detroit sheriffs are appealing to state and federal politicians to stop “peppering” local law enforcement with proposals to improve community relations, and instead talk to them about reform efforts needed to ease growing tensions between police and the public.

“Law enforcement has been very much pounded lately,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said Tuesday during a National Police Week news conference, where he outlined “Policing 2.0” proposals that would put police agencies in the driver’s seat of reform efforts.

Joining him were Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham and Wayne County Undersheriff Daniel Pfannes, according to reports by the Detroit Free Press, Oakland County Press and Michigan Radio.

“I’m frustrated by the constant peppering of law enforcement from both the Far Right and the Far Left,” Bouchard said. “The Far Right seems to think we’re part of the NSA, and the Far Left wants to disarm us.”

Bouchard said he and other sheriffs are left out of discussions among politicians who “don’t talk to us,” but respond with knee-jerk proposals. “Constant berating in the media” is causing morale among police officers to sink, he said.

The 2.0 proposals, which Bouchard and his staff have floated from Lansing to Capitol Hill to the White House, create a system of tougher accountability, but retain local control – important, the Oakland sheriff says, because eliminating a layer of bureaucracy increases transparency

They would mandate, among other things, a centralized reporting system fo all officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths, as well as incidents involving the use of force – including a stun gun, firearm or other restraint equipment – overcome suspects who are resisting arrest.

“I’m not talking about somebody resisting being handcuffed but active force,” Bouchard said.

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The sheriffs also back a $50 million statewide training program, including better training for reserve and auxiliary officers under a system with uniform state standards. Local departments currently set their own standards for reserve officers, and many small departments have been criticized for deputizing untrained outsiders, Bouchard said.

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To restore public trust in police officers, property seized under state and federal asset confiscation laws would be subjected to increased reporting standards.

Those proposals all increase the amount of information the public could access about police conduct. But Bouchard and the other law enforcement brass also seek limits on the the release of video from body-worn police cameras under the Freedom of Information Act – unless it relates to a citizen-filed complaint.

• See also: Michigan Biz Hears Cha-Ching in Call for Police Body Cams

Bouchard reasoned that if videos were available to any citizen requesting them, they could be used by anyone with an Internet connection to create a “cheap reality TV show at the expense of the public we serve.”

Michigan ACLU legislative director Shelli Weisberg told the Free Press civil libertarians welcome Bouchard’s call for increased reporting and accountability on forfeitures, but took issue with his call restrict access to video from body cameras.

“You can’t increase community trust out of one side of your mouth if out of the other side of your mouth, you say you want to keep video away from the public,” Weisberg said.

The proposals come as activists march on urban streets across the nation to protest the high profile deaths of of several unarmed black men.

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Today’s police officers work in an environment that Bouchard said is unique in his 29 years of law enforcement.

Police officers are under such constant attack by the public and media, he said, that the “feel like they’re the Vietnam vets” of the 1970.”

“They feel like they’re putting their lives on the line, and feel beaten up and under appreciated,” he said.

• Tell Us: What do you think about these proposals? What other reform is necessary?