OVERLAND PARK, KS – A police department out of Johnson County, Kansas, has updated their policy regarding the release of bodycam footage relating to use-of-force and critical incidents in a bid to increase transparency.
The Overland Park Police Department announced on February 4th that the department is updating their bodycam footage release policy to align with a more transparent approach as it relates to contentious incidents such as use-of-force and officer-involved shooting incidents.
According to department officials, the release of such critical incident videos moving forward will be carried out with a delicate balancing act of ensuring investigative integrity as it pertains to ongoing criminal cases while also minding the sentiments of families involved in such incidents where graphic content may be present in some footage.
The updated policy reads in part:
“It is the goal of this department to support and promote openness of government by publicly releasing BWC footage regarding officer involved critical incidents (i.e., officer-involved shootings), while protecting the sensitivity and privacy rights of those individuals involved. In any such event, the Chief of Police or designee, the District Attorney's Office, City Management, and the Public Safety Attorney will reach a consensus regarding the public release. The existence of an ongoing investigation into misconduct shall not be used as the sole determining factor to not publicly release body-worn camera footage, as doing so would create a blanket exception to releasing footage; thereby undermining the transparency and accountability functions. In these cases, the totality of the circumstances and applicable legal and policy considerations should be considered.”
Chief Doreen Jokerst issued a statement regarding the updated policy, emphasizing that the “judicial process” will be respected while also addressing the concerns of the community at large when critical incidents occur.
“Trust is the foundation of effective policing. We recognize that in moments of crisis, the community expects and deserves clarity,” Chief Jokerst stated, adding, “SOP 2160 is a proactive step toward meeting those expectations, ensuring we remain accountable to the community we serve while protecting the integrity of the judicial process.”
The Overland Park Police Department announced on February 4th that the department is updating their bodycam footage release policy to align with a more transparent approach as it relates to contentious incidents such as use-of-force and officer-involved shooting incidents.
According to department officials, the release of such critical incident videos moving forward will be carried out with a delicate balancing act of ensuring investigative integrity as it pertains to ongoing criminal cases while also minding the sentiments of families involved in such incidents where graphic content may be present in some footage.
The updated policy reads in part:
“It is the goal of this department to support and promote openness of government by publicly releasing BWC footage regarding officer involved critical incidents (i.e., officer-involved shootings), while protecting the sensitivity and privacy rights of those individuals involved. In any such event, the Chief of Police or designee, the District Attorney's Office, City Management, and the Public Safety Attorney will reach a consensus regarding the public release. The existence of an ongoing investigation into misconduct shall not be used as the sole determining factor to not publicly release body-worn camera footage, as doing so would create a blanket exception to releasing footage; thereby undermining the transparency and accountability functions. In these cases, the totality of the circumstances and applicable legal and policy considerations should be considered.”
Chief Doreen Jokerst issued a statement regarding the updated policy, emphasizing that the “judicial process” will be respected while also addressing the concerns of the community at large when critical incidents occur.
“Trust is the foundation of effective policing. We recognize that in moments of crisis, the community expects and deserves clarity,” Chief Jokerst stated, adding, “SOP 2160 is a proactive step toward meeting those expectations, ensuring we remain accountable to the community we serve while protecting the integrity of the judicial process.”
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