Police Body Cameras Present Issues, Say Tri-City Officials

The bill that Gov. Jay Inslee signed last week pertaining to police body camera's doesn't really address the REAL issues facing departments when it comes to using them.

Inslee, at the request of legislators who spoke with police, agreed to sign the bill that will limit certain types of footage from being available to the general public. The bill also requires people wishing to see body camera footage to file a specific request, listing what and why they want to see it.

Interiors of people's private homes, deceased people and images of minors will be kept private. But according to Tri-City officials, there's still a lot of issues to be addressed.

Richland Chief Mike Cobb says it's not just about strapping on a camera, but things that have to be considered include:

• Cost of the units
• where the footage will be stored. In the 'cloud?' on-site or offsite? This also costs money as well as maintaining it.

Cobb says the most daunting prospect is the money. Richland is considering the cameras, but might have to take money away from other areas of the budget to pay for the storing and maintaining the footage. The new law also requires departments to provide feedback to the special task force created by the legislation.

Richland is the only city considering such cameras. Kennewick and Pasco don't plan on getting them. Pasco uses dash cameras, but they are not covered under this new law.