2020-09-22
When public officials across the country tried to increase the transparency of their law enforcement agencies, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg called for a “comprehensive review” of the police department’s body-worn camera policy in a memo released on Wednesday. .
Police departments in some major cities in Texas have begun to release camera footage worn on the body, sometimes within a few days of the shooting.
However, in San Antonio, the police department usually does not release the body camera footage even after the investigation is over, which is permitted by state law. Officials only said last month that the department does not have a video policy specifically for shooting incidents of its personnel.
Nirenberg wrote in the memorandum: "As major cities across the country continue to revise public safety-related policies and agreements to reflect their respective communities’ calls for effective supervision, the City of San Antonio will continue to seek every opportunity to improve our public safety procedures. "Has been sent to the City Council.
Nirenberg subsequently called for a review, saying it was part of the council's "work to increase transparency, accountability and public access."
The day after the memo was released, the San Antonio police arrested his husband Darrell Wayne Zemault Sr. on domestic violence charges and killed him.
The release of police footage, cameras worn on the body, and dashboard cameras are critical to determining whether the police officer is taking appropriate action during the incident.
For example, the recent SAPD dash cam footage obtained by the KSAT 12 defender contradicts the department’s long-held claim that Hannah Westall was caught in early 2019 after she aimed her weapon at him. Sergeant SAPD shot dead.
An assistant city attorney had previously tried to refuse to release these videos on the grounds that a previous ruling of the state’s attorney general allowed them to keep the videos because the case did not result in a conviction or postponement. After defenders pointed out that the dash cam footage had been released to the family, the assistant city prosecutor released the footage to KSAT.
After the defenders' report, the San Antonio police revised the death report in custody more than a year after Vestar's death.
In January of this year, after SAPD officials and federal law enforcement officers killed and killed Randy Goodale while sitting in a truck outside a house in the 4400 block of Stetson View, Police Chief William McManus said that Goodale "began to storm into the occupied zone , The police opened fire on the police car."
Home surveillance video obtained by the defenders showed that Goodley’s vehicle did not move until it was shot.
SAPD rules require police officers to activate their body cameras when conducting formal police activities. Failure to do so is a violation of policy unless the police officer can provide reasonable reasons to prove that it is unsafe, unrealistic or impractical.
Nirenberg wrote in the memo: "I look forward to the discussion that follows, and hope to work with you to achieve our common goal for the benefit of San Antonio and its residents."
After the memo was released, Manny Pelaez, a member of the 8th district, issued his statement:
"I have not yet watched the video. I will not make any specific comments on this before meeting with the Chief of Police and the City Attorney's Office. However, I take these incidents very seriously and will carefully monitor internal affairs and jury procedures."
After the memorandum was released, the 6th District Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda also issued a statement:
"Today, the mayor asked the entire city council to thoroughly review the camera policy worn by our police department. As the chairman of our public safety committee, a member of the 6th district council and a citizen of the community, I welcome the opportunity to delve into the body camera policy. The policy can be used as a resource for evaluation, training and verification of street policing and community behavior."
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