AUSTIN, Texas — According to our news partners at the Austin-American Statesman, the Austin Police Department is considering pulling out of federal task forces because of federal authorities' objections to officers wearing body cameras.
Several other departments are also considering this after the Atlanta Police Department withdrew from federal task forces last month, following a deadly raid.
In the incident, an Atlanta police officer was working with the FBI fugitive task force when they shot and killed a man who was wanted but unarmed. The Washington Post reported the department's police chief didn't learn her officers couldn't wear the body cameras until after the incident.
Austin Police Chief Brian Manley has reportedly been in discussion with federal authorities for a year, to try and change the policy.
“This boils down to common-sense use of current technology,” said Manley. “The federal government put a large amount of funding behind body-worn camera programs around this country for a reason because it’s recognized as a best practice and best tool. So it just seems inconsistent that they wouldn’t allow us to use them with federal programs.”
According to a 2018 report by the Department of Justice, 47% of the more than 15,000 law enforcement agencies in the country had implemented body-worn camera programs in 2016, citing their ability to improve officer safety, increase the quality of evidence and reduce civilian complaints and agency liability.
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All Austin police, including detectives, have been equipped with body cameras since 2018. APD has relied on federal funding to implement their programs.
According to a Department of Justice official, none of its agents or officers use body cameras in order to protect “sensitive or tactical methods used in arresting violent fugitives or conducting covert investigations.” Justice officials also are concerned about the privacy of people who may be present when a warrant is executed.
Chief Manley expressed that talks are ongoing with federal authorities and he has no intention of pulling his officers from task forces yet.
Neither the FBI nor the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives would comment on the ongoing discussions, referring questions to the Justice Department.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released the following statement to KVUE:
"We are aware that some local police departments have raised concerns relating to their officers’ use of body-cameras when they participate in federal task-force operations," said Nicole Navas Oxman, senior communications advisor for DOJ. "The Department’s law enforcement components work closely with our state and local partners, and they regularly discuss issues of mutual concern, including policies relating to the appropriate use of body cameras. As these discussions progress, thousands of local task-force officers from local departments continue their daily work on federal task forces, safeguarding our communities from violent criminals, drug traffickers, and threats of terrorism. Interagency task-force operations are crucial to public safety, and the Department’s law enforcement components ensure they are conducted lawfully and with the utmost professionalism.”
On background attributed to a 'Justice Department official':
"There are no Department of Justice law enforcement agencies that use body cameras. The rationale for this is certainly operational safety and security concerns, such as protecting sensitive/tactical methods used in arresting violent fugitives or conducting covert investigations. Body cameras are more commonly used in the community policing/traffic stop context. Justice Department law enforcement agencies are also concerned about privacy interests of third parties that may be present at the time a warrant is executed."
For more information, you can read more here at Statesman.com.
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