EDITORIAL: Body-worn cameras beneficial if laws on disclosure are thoughtful

The General Assembly will tackle a touchy decision involving the law enforcement body cameras this year. The question is: Who gets to view what the cameras capture?

An idea likely to get the support of the law enforcement community would be to treat the video footage as discretionary public records, which could be made available to the public at the discretion of the agency that gathered the information. Reasons for this would be to maintain the integrity of an investigation and to protect the privacy of those who might be visible in the video.

However, such a policy could be abused, with video released only when it shows police acting properly. At times, like when force is used, there must be a different level of scrutiny.

The Legislature must require that in certain cases, a third party, such as the public access counselor or a panel of retired judges, determines if there’s public interest in releasing video footage law enforcement would rather keep private. Hopefully, the need for such reviews would be rare in that police would have nothing to hide and everything to gain by releasing videos. But a mechanism for an independent review is essential ­— for the good of the public and to maintain and build confidence in police.

The rules governing body-worn cameras should be carefully considered and of value to the broadest group of Hoosiers.