San Francisco Police Commission hears sharp divide over whether officers may view body-camera footage before statements

San Francisco '1 Oct. 2015 '015

The Police Commission convened a Tenderloin community meeting to gather public comment on a draft body-worn camera policy developed by a multi-stakeholder working group. The proposal, forwarded unanimously by the working group in August, lays out when officers should activate cameras, how long footage should be retained and rules for access and review.

Why it matters

The central dispute presented at the meeting was whether officers should be allowed to view body-worn camera footage before writing an initial incident report or giving a voluntary statement in critical incidents such as officer-involved shootings or in-custody deaths. Proponents argue pre-statement review produces more accurate reports and aids investigations; opponents say it can "contaminate" memory and undercut public trust in the investigative process.

What presenters told the commission

Commander Robert Moser, co-chair of the working group, told the commission the group's members included department personnel, the Office of Citizen Complaints, the Public Defender's Office, the San Francisco Bar Association, the ACLU, several unions and community representatives and that meetings and materials were posted publicly. He said the group reached agreement on many points but did not reach consensus on pre-statement viewing and retention length, and therefore presented both viewpoints to the commission for decision.

Marty Halloran, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, argued officers should be allowed to review…