INDIANAPOLIS, Ind – Indiana House Bill 1019, which would conceal access to police video – at the discretion of the police department – has made it closer to becoming law. HB 1019, introduced by Rep. Kevin Mahan (R-Hartford City) easily passed through Indiana’s House of Representatives with a vote of 65-30.
Mahan, who previously served as Blackford County Sheriff, said “This bill gives guidance to police departments that would like to add body cameras, while giving thoughtful consideration to privacy rights and investigations.”
The bill comes with controversy as it “restricts public records requests for law enforcement recordings” and requires a court order to release recorded police body camera video. Had this bill been law in Illinois, the video showing police shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times would not have been made public.
Chuck Williams, vice president and general manager for Radio One Indianapolis, said “I too feel a need for the police to have protections. Unfortunately, this takes away their ability to act in public transparency and actually increases every official’s risk. The issues now facing the Mayor and Police department in Chicago were from a decision to hide from transparency, This bill would insist officials hide all public camera interactions, placing every Police and City Official, including Mayor Hogsett, into the same position Chicago now finds themselves in, when recordings eventually are exposed, as they will be…eventually. When deciding between transparency and non-transparency, a Democratic Society, governed by the People, for the People, would and should always choose transparency.”
Williams’ position is in line with the Indiana Broadcasters Association which calls the bill “outrageous”.
Mahan says “As a former sheriff, I have learned a lot about body cameras and their impact on local communities, and I feel that this bill provides appropriate guidelines to law enforcement agencies who incorporate this technology,” Mahan said. “With this complex issue, it is important to balance transparency for the public while maintaining individual privacy rights.”
The bill now moves to the Indiana Senate for a vote before being sent to the Governor’s desk.
those donations to Flint, Mich. Hicks says you can contact her via social media or by phone at 317-210-0828. (Segment starts at 39:33 in the program embedded below.)
(Indianapolis, Ind.) An Indiana legislator has introduced a bill that would give police departments the option of withholding police body and dash-cam video in Indiana. Had this bill been law in Illinois, the video of Chicago police shooting LaQuan McDonald 16 times would not have been released.
(Indianapolis, IN) – It is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Jessica Evans from 
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Donald Trump is dangerously close to becoming President of The United States. A lot can change before Election Day in November 2016. But, at this point in the campaign, the possibility of Trump adding the White House to his list of residences is more likely now, than ever imagined. Cameron Ridle and Ebony Chappel explain why on “Indy Speaks”.
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