The Denver Police Department on Thursday will begin rolling out body cameras to more than 800 officers as more law enforcement agencies across the state consider using the technology.
Body cameras were a big topic Tuesday afternoon during a round-table discussion on race, policing and justice hosted by state legislators and attended by police chiefs, sheriffs, lawyers, lobbyists and union representatives from across the state.
As body camera use becomes more widespread, departments are realizing the programs are much more complex than handing officers cameras and telling them to hit a record button.
Departments must write extensive policies that protect the public’s and officers’ interests as well as the integrity of criminal investigations.
And recording is the easy part, chiefs and sheriffs say.
Denver police deputy chief Matt Murray said reviewing footage of crimes and use of force incidents will be “manpower intensive.”
For example, if five officers record footage of the same incident, investigators could spend hours reviewing videos, he said.
The department also is waiting to see how open records requests for footage affect the Department of Safety, which has one person who responds to all requests, Murray said.
Auraria Campus Police chief Michael Phibbs said departments will have to edit videos released to the public because of privacy concerns.
“It is this back-end stuff that is going to be nearly impossible to manage,” he said.
Last year, the Colorado legislature passed a package of laws aimed at rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Tuesday’s discussion was a follow-up to measure progress.
A legislative committee is meeting this year to discuss statewide recommendations for policies and procedures on body cameras.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Dave Walcher warned against mandated policies.
“I do not want to be told what policies to have as an organization,” Walcher said. “That is my call and the community’s call.”
Greenwood Village chief John Jackson said he was holding off on fielding body cameras because he sees too many unanswered questions.
“It won’t be that putting body cameras on officers will solve the problems,” Jackson said. “It very much is a one-dimensional look at a three-dimensional world.”
And Murray reminded the panel that body cameras will not be used for the sole purpose of capturing misbehaving cops.
“A body worn camera is an evidence-collecting program,” Murray said. “It’s not a police accountability program. “
Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or @Noelle_Phillips
