Civil liberties advocates say one of two proposals to regulate police body cameras in Utah this year would give law enforcement too much leeway and would exempt videos of fatal shootings from open records laws.
The proposal, from Sen. Daniel Thatcher, R-West Valley City, makes body camera footage a private government record if it shows "images of nudity, death or gruesome events," or was recorded while an officer is serving a search warrant or needed permission to enter a private location.
Police would be allowed to release the record if they felt there was a broader public interest to do so. If they still decline, someone requesting the video would have to appeal to the state's public records committee or a judge.
Neither bill has had a hearing yet. Continue…
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