Critics blast Detroit police video ordinance as weak and full of exemptions - Detroit Metro Times

Detroit Police Department's Proposed Video Release Ordinance Sparks Concerns Over Lack of Transparency and Exemptions.

A proposed city ordinance requiring the Detroit Police Department to release video footage of serious use of force would still leave many loopholes, critics say. The proposed measure, which would set rules for how police releases body-cam footage, excludes incidents that result in minor injuries or fatalities and permits redactions to protect officers and city officials.

Detroit activists claim that the ordinance is weak because it provides too much protection to the police department. "It's not even a good ordinance," said Jacob Smith of the Detroit Alliance Against Racial and Political Repression. "We need something stronger." Some critics argued that the proposal does not go far enough, suggesting that footage of alleged incidents such as stop-and-frisk, racism, and sexual harassment or assault be included.

Councilwoman Angela Whitfield Calloway, who drafted the video requirement, acknowledged that the measure may need to be amended. However, she stated that everyone will not be happy with all ordinances passed in the city of Detroit. The proposal would allow police to withhold footage if it involves a joint task force, violates the police union contract, or could harm the city in a civil lawsuit.

Former Police Commissioner William Davis said the ordinance can and should be stronger, emphasizing the need for impartial editing before releasing video footage. Victoria Camille, who is running for a seat on the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners, argued that unedited footage belongs to taxpayers and that police departments have no right to shape narratives in advance of public access.

The Coalition for Police Transparency and Accountability (CPTA) submitted an alternative proposal, which would require all unedited video, audio, and reports related to use of force or pursuit within seven days. This version also allows the city to delay up to 30 days with a written explanation, but footage would remain permanently accessible on a website managed by the Board of Police Commissioners.

Critics express concerns that the current proposal does not prioritize public transparency over police interests. The proposed ordinance raises questions about how transparently Detroit police departments will be in releasing footage and whether the measures provided are sufficient to address systemic issues within law enforcement.

omg, u guys this is soooo messed up !! detroit pd wants 2 b all secretive w/ their body cam vids & it's like, what even is tht?! they're tryna hide stuff from the ppl who are actually affected by police brutality. newsflash: transparency matters!!! we need stronger laws, not just some watered down version that still lets them get away w/ murderin' people & coverin' it up 2 avoid accountability. like, what's the point of even havin' a body cam if it's just gonna be redacted & edited 2 fit their narrative?! not fair 2 taxpayers who deserve 2 know what really happened. we need change, not more loopholes

idk about this new ordinance, sounds like a half-baked solution to me . they're still gonna have loopholes that let them hide some stuff behind redactions or claims of harming the city in a lawsuit... and what's with the exemption for minor injuries? how are we supposed to trust the police when we can't even see their actions when someone gets hurt really badly? plus, this whole thing just smells like politics as usual - they're gonna water down the law so that everyone but the activists will be happy . i'm not convinced it'll make a real difference in making the detroit police department more transparent... we need to see more concrete changes than just "oh, we'll let taxpayers access their footage eventually"

Ugh, I'm so done with this whole thing . Like, who needs transparency when you've got exemptions? This ordinance is just a watered-down version of what's needed to actually hold the police department accountable for their actions. Minor injuries and fatalities? Who cares about those? It's all about protecting the police and city officials from getting roasted on social media .

And don't even get me started on the loopholes . Joint task forces, union contracts, civil lawsuits... what does any of that have to do with transparency? The only thing that should matter is if the police are doing something wrong and hurting people. And as for Victoria Camille's point about taxpayers having access to unedited footage, yeah right . It'll never happen.

I'm all for accountability, but this ordinance just isn't cutting it . We need something much stronger to be passed, not some watered-down version that lets the police department continue to sweep their mistakes under the rug .

I'm low-key worried about this proposed video release ordinance in Detroit. It's like they're still trying to hide stuff from the public . I mean, why should officers get exemptions for minor injuries or fatalities? That just sounds like a way to sweep incidents under the rug. And what's up with redactions to protect them and city officials? That's not transparency, that's secrecy .

I think the CPTA alternative proposal is a step in the right direction, but it still has some major flaws. Requiring unedited footage within 7 days might be a good start, but why should there be delays of up to 30 days with an explanation? That just gives them more time to spin the narrative .

It's not like they're asking for much – just some basic transparency and accountability from our police department. But no, they want to protect their own interests over the public's right to know what's going on .

idk why ppl need their vids released 2 the public anyway, it's prob just gonna be some shaky cam of a cop shakin' his head , nobody's really gonna learn anything from it... & whats wrong w/ redactions 2 protect officer identities? that's 2 prevent further harassment or lawsuits. also, 7 days is way too much time 4 police 2 review vids, they gotta make decisions fast in high-pressure situations

I'm just worried they're not gonna make it easy enough for us to see what's really goin' on with the DPD... I mean, think back to '99 when Mubarak was in power - you could never get any info about the police brutality back then . This city needs a more solid plan, not just some watered-down version that's gonna let them sweep stuff under the rug. And what's with all these exemptions? It feels like they're tryin' to keep us in the dark, you know?

I'm still waiting for them to release all the good stuff they've been hiding . This new ordinance is a joke, like they think we're gonna just forget about all the times cops have gotten away with some serious BS . Minor injuries and fatalities? What even is that? Just leave it out altogether. And redactions for officers and city officials? Give me a break . It's not like they'd need to hide anything from us, right? The Coalition's proposal might be slightly better, but I'm still skeptical about what really goes on behind the scenes . I mean, who gets to decide what footage is released and when? It'll just be more of the same old thing .

This whole thing feels like a step back, you know? Like they're trying to protect the cops instead of the public. Exemptions for minor injuries or fatalities? That's just gonna cover up bad stuff. And 30 days with an explanation for withholding footage? That's just a fancy way of saying "we'll delay it until we figure out how to spin it". CPTA's proposal is way more reasonable, IMHO

idk why ppl need 2 keep watchin over police vids, can't they just let ppl see whats goin on? i mean, im all 4 transparency n all that but come on... we got more pressing issues like climate change n stuff . have u seen those documentaries on the amazon rainforest lately? its like, super messed up what ppl r doin 2 the planet