WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Police Department, the 4th largest
police department in the country, is continuing to work toward
fully deploying body-worn cameras over the next several years;
and
WHEREAS, It is important to ensure that body-worn camera
footage protects both law enforcement officers and civilians
during conflicts; and
WHEREAS, It is vital that body-worn camera footage be
available to the prosecution, defense and public as necessary to
aide in the speedy and just resolution of criminal cases; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that the data obtained by body-worn
camera footage be protected from cyber threats; and
WHEREAS, In 2017, Governor Tom Wolf signed a law that enabled
law enforcement officers to use body-worn cameras on the job
without risking illegal wiretapping or lawsuit charges; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is still lagging behind other
states in terms of law enforcement body-worn camera usage and
studies; and
WHEREAS, Law enforcement officers and agencies in this
Commonwealth face several obstacles concerning body-worn
cameras, including cost and usage of footage; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives believes that body-worn
camera footage could be used more effectively if all pieces of
footage, regardless of use in legal proceedings, were studied to
understand how they are used in the criminal justice system
throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives acknowledges the
importance of body-worn camera footage being used for the safety
of law enforcement officers and residents of this Commonwealth;
therefore be it
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