COLUMBUS – A proposal by Columbus City Council President and Democratic mayoral candidate Andrew Ginther to start outfitting Columbus police officers with body cameras next year met with a lukewarm reception.
Ginther called for a report from a committee of city and law enforcement officials, along with representatives of the community by the end of this year addressing the costs of the program, how to pay for it, and whether any existing laws need to be changed to implement the program.
“Body cameras will promote officer and resident safety by documenting interactions and providing an impartial, factual record of interactions with the public,” he said.
The Division of Police tested body cameras and Mayor Michael Coleman announced earlier this year the formation of a committee to study their use and suggest how to overcome barriers to implementation.
Chief Kim Jacobs, who did not attend a news conference announcing Ginther’s proposal, told The Columbus Dispatch that the funds believed necessary to outfit officers with the cameras and store the data would be a burden on the division’s budget and she would rather use the money for things she considers higher priorities.
The head of the union representing officers agreed that the funds would be better put to use elsewhere.
“We’re talking about a very short period of time from now to one year from now to come up with a lot of solutions to a problem that doesn’t exist,” said Jason Pappas, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge No.9.
Pappas said, in addition to funding, those issues included the privacy of crime victims and witnesses and the possible safety threat posed by publicizing police procedures and techniques.
Ginther’s opponent in the November election, Franklin County Sheriff Zach Scott, said Ginther’s recommendation was “a little late.” Scott says he advocated use of body cameras during the primary race between the two earlier this year.
“Unlike Mr. Ginther, I did not need to take a poll to determine my position on this important issue,” Scott said in a statement released by his campaign. “We must implement body cameras in a responsible way to protect victims, police and the general public.”
Cost estimates ranged up to $10 million for implementing the program, maintaining it and storing images. Ginther said he believed the state and federal government would both be willing to contribute funds to the program.
“With everything that has been going on across the country, once again Columbus has set the standard for police and communities to work together,” said Rev. Tyrone Lawes, president of the Baptist Ministerial Alliance, one of the city’s faith leaders who endorsed the proposal.
Ginther has asked the committee to report on a variety of issues before the end of 2015, such as the costs and the technological, human and financial resources required; any potential state and federal grants that could cover the costs, and any changes in state laws necessary to effectively deploy the cameras, and provide a plan that reflects current state laws while also anticipating changes.