Madison Common Council to accept final report, policy on police-worn body cameras
July 6, 2021 4:34 PM Jamie Perez
Updated:
MADISON, Wis. Madison’s Common Council will vote whether or not to accept the final report and policy on police worn body cameras at its meeting tonight.
Item #80 on council’s agenda includes the final report by the Police Body-Worn Camera Feasibility Review Committee. The near 60-page document highlights the pros and cons of having Madison police officers adopt a body camera pilot program. It also details accounts from a handful of local community groups speaking for and against the idea.
District 6 alder and Public Safety Review Committee member Brian Benford said, “The general sentiment is that they’re good, but if you really dive deeper and look at some of the peripheral impacts, negative impacts of body worn cameras, then as a community we have to do our due diligence and hit the brakes on this and really take a loo
Madison committee recommends rejecting body cameras for police
Last night, Madison’s Public Safety Review Committee (PSRC) voted against both a body worn camera pilot program and a full, city-wide rollout. In a 4-2 vote, PSRC members recommended that the city council reject the controversial technology.
That decision comes just a few weeks after a separate city committee finished a 52-page feasibility report on body cameras, which recommended a “vigorous” pilot program before city-wide implementation.
PSRC member Matthew Mitnick, who voted against the body cameras, cited concerns over the program’s anticipated costs and that it didn’t adequately address input from community members.