Police Body-Worn Camera Image Concerns

House Bill 1264 Sets Limitations

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Body–worn cameras have started rolling out to the Grand Forks police force and some people are not particularly fans of this new movement saying it violates their right to privacy.

James Schothorst says, “Any videos released of the police department and their interaction between residents is inappropriate.”

They say the socially acceptable reason for any video content to be released is if it’s matters of the court.

Rex Huss says, “I would hope it wouldn’t just be released without some sort of charge or pending case.”

As for the content being filmed, the body–cameras are to be worn at all times in the ON mode but at an officers’ own discretion.

Grand Forks Police Lt. Dwight Love explains, “If it’s a sensitive situation such as nudity or something like that where we don’t want to embarrass the person or let’s say it’s a sexual assault victim…something along those lines we’ll certainly shut the camera off and not film.”

Most residents believe without question that police should have body–cameras but for some they’re still not convinced.

State Representative Lois Delmore says, “I am all for people’s right to know and the fact that we have some of the best open record laws in the state but somewhere along those lines I think that we have to protect people from some of the things that don’t need to be graphically shown.”

HOUSE BILL 1264 helps set some type of guidelines in image releasing specifically in places deemed private and when nudity is involved.

Schothorst adds, “I think it’s a move in the right direction because I think it makes both the general public and police in their work accountable.”

By the end of next week, all Grand Forks officers will be outfitted with a camera.