• James F. Kellinger · Top Commenter · Rutgers University-Newark
    If the law mandates that the videos be made, then they are public records by definition. There is no question about when they are to be released--they are to be released immediately under state law. Police arrest reports are required to be made, and so are public records. The police must release them immediately. Claiming that they are a part of a police investigation will not shield them from public view.
    Reply · Like
    · 1 · Edited · October 11, 2014 at 1:34am
    • Mike Barry · Top Commenter
      James Kellinger - Actually, that's not quite accurate. The Open records Act (ORA) has a specific provision to exempt the release of records and video from release to the public during an ongoing criminal investigation. Criminal investigatory records are specifically exempt. If law enforcement properly and accurately claim that release of video and other record would directly or indirectly harm an ongoing criminal investigation, release of video and other records are also exempt. NJSA: 47-1A-1 et seq.
      Reply · Like
      · 3 · October 11, 2014 at 8:07am
    • James F. Kellinger · Top Commenter · Rutgers University-Newark
      Mike Barry The wrinkle is that the videos are now required to be made. Investigatory materials are exempt, but records which are required to be made, such as arrest reports and mug shots, are not exempt.
      Reply · Like
      · October 11, 2014 at 10:19am
    • Mike Barry · Top Commenter
      Jim...mug shots and other innocuous information always was a matter of public record. I'm talking strictly about video.
      Reply · Like
      · October 11, 2014 at 6:15pm
     
  • Andy Rich · Top Commenter · Fairlawn, Ohio
    The problem is that the media will not show the entire video. They will only show the part they want us to see.
    Reply · Like
    · 2 · October 11, 2014 at 4:13am
    • Richard Unger · Montevideo, Minnesota
      That's not a reason to not share it. If it is easily available other media will quickly point out the problem.
      Reply · Like
      · 1 · October 11, 2014 at 7:04am
    • Charlie Double-u · Top Commenter
      Richard Unger I wish that was true, but they often wont. And our society has become lazy and very few will actually go out of their way to properly educate themselves before espousing their views.
      Reply · Like
      · 1 · October 11, 2014 at 5:30pm
     
  • John Garbarini · Top Commenter
    Police video cameras keep both sides "honest," so to speak. Videos can help straighten out all the "you said, I said, he said" arguments in court.
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    · 2 · October 11, 2014 at 8:22am
       
    • Mark A Hernandez · Top Commenter · Fairleigh Dickinson University
      These videos show approximately 45 out of 365 degrees available around the police vehicle or body of the officer. This means that 320 degrees will not be shown or recorded, this will be a loophole to invalidate the discretion given to police officers in doing their job.
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      · October 11, 2014 at 11:16pm
         
      • Mac III · Top Commenter · Owner at G Mc Guire III, Home Repair and Improvement Specialist
        Of course these videos should be made public record. The police are paid to serve and protect the public by the public. Taxpayers pay their salaries and for their equipment. These tapes are public property. Who are the police or even the prosecutors to deny the public of this property? I can see if a certain tape is evidence in a trial but I would also think that the tape would also be considered evidence view able by both Prosecution and Defense. In a municipal court if one is defending themselves, they should still be granted access to any evidence, especially a police video.
        Reply · Like
        · October 13, 2014 at 9:43am
           
        • GD Hutch · Kean University
          Great! All Domestic Violence allegations , with Police involvement, need to be video-taped.....might help deter epidemic of False DV allegations, and False Restraining Orders (that are issued).
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          · October 13, 2014 at 11:02am
          • Mike Kostbar
            This ruling will mean nothing. All routine patrol activity will now be labeled " investigative" and therefore exempt from the ruling. Once the reports are finished and the footage is deemed non investigative, the departments will release the footage. This by the way is exactly how it should be done. During investigations, people will give details only someone who was at the scene would know; This gives their statements credibility. If everyone sees the video on the news, that vetting process is lost to investigators, and that can severely hamper and investigation. We all want the truth, but we need to let the police due there jobs. I will probably get flak for saying this but, the police are there for societies benefit and protection. We need to make their job as easy as possible to keep the peace and restore order. That being said, this trust is sometimes broken by certain individuals officials at times. Those people need to be held accountable for their actions, but that does not mean that all police forces are out to get the public.
            Reply · Like
            · October 14, 2014 at 7:01am
           
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