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Police Cameras at the Department of the Interior: Inconsistencies, Failures and Consequences

 

On Sept. 29, 2020, Arthur Ago, director of the Criminal Justice Project, testified before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources. The hearing, “Police Cameras at the Department of the Interior: Inconsistencies, Failures and Consequences,” focused on the lack of transparency and accountability from the Department of Interior police forces, and legal and policy solutions. 

 

During his testimony, Ago presented five main points:

  • The Department of Interior police forces must be more accountable and transparent to the public, and a good first-step would be requiring body-worn and dashboard cameras. 
  • Body-worn and dashboard cameras must be accompanied by robust rules and policies that govern how police forces use the cameras, maintain the recordings, and make the recordings public in cases alleging police misconduct. These rules must also discipline the police officers who fail to obey orders around body-worn and dashboard camera use. 
  • There must also be limitations on how cameras are used. They must not be used discriminatorily against people of color and those demonstrating against police misconduct and violence. 
  • The U.S. Park Police, one of Interior’s forces, has been a woeful failure in accountability and transparency. The Park Police are a case study in secrecy and impunity. 
  • Congress has a real opportunity to lead by reforming the federal police forces, particularly by increasing accountability mechanisms and transparency with the public. 

 

 

Read Ago’s full testimony here.