COLUMBUS, Ohio – Law enforcement officers in Ohio would be the latest to don body cameras, and would have to keep cameras running during all interactions with the public, if a bill introduced by a former Columbus City Council member become law.
The bill proposed by Rep. Kevin Boyce (D-Columbus) not only requires officers to wear body cameras, but also to keep them and dashboard cameras running during interactions with the public, Boyce’s office announced Monday.
The bill would also create a panel to examine police training, tactics and operations in Ohio.
“We need to ensure our commitment to foster trust in our communities does not end with a report. By making the oversight committee permanent and putting resources behind this, we reaffirm our commitment to ensure the safety and protection of all Ohioans,” Boyce said.
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The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that close to one-third of the nation’s 17,000 police departments are using body cameras and Boyce’s office says, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, the proposal would make Ohio the 30th state to consider requiring body cameras this year.
The proposals comes on the heels of recommendations from a statewide task force, which called for increased oversight and training for law enforcement officers.
Gov. John Kasich created the task force in the aftermath of civil unrest across the country following the police shootings of several black men, including Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.; John Crawford, Jr. in a Beavercreek Walmart, and 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland.
A 15-member commission established by Boyce’s proposal would continue to advise lawmakers on how best to encourage and maintain trust between Ohio’s police and the communities they patrol, said Boyce.
Boyce’s measure also establishes a state matching fund to help local agencies buy body cameras and manage data storage.
The Justice Department is also making $20 million available to for local law enforcement to help purchase and monitor body-worn cameras as part of a new pilot program, Boyce said.