Mayor Peduto calling for ability to quickly release police body camera footage

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is calling for changes to Pennsylvania law so that it becomes easier for city officials to quickly release footage from police body cameras.

Existing law bars, in most circumstances, city leaders from immediately releasing body camera footage to the public.

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“Now more than ever cities need to show transparency and accountability for police actions, and city leaders across Pennsylvania need more power to share taxpayer-funded camera footage with the public as soon as possible. This is allowed in many states across the nation and should be here as well,” Peduto said in a statement.

Last year, Pittsburgh police invested $10 million in new cameras for more than 900 officers.

“Body-worn cameras are known to protect both the public and police by providing unfiltered checks on community-police interactions. Pittsburgh and other cities in the commonwealth must be given the flexibility to quickly release such footage in designated situations in compliance with applicable law,” Peduto said.

Cities like Atlanta and Minneapolis recently released body camera video from high-profile cases in a matter of days, something that is against state law in Pennsylvania.

If Pittsburgh is in a similar situation, Dan Gilman -- Peduto’s chief of staff -- said they want the city to have the ability to react quickly.

“This isn’t something that should be seen as political. This isn’t something that’s pro-police or anti-police, this is about transparency and accountability,” Gilman said.

It’s a move the Allegheny County DA’s office is moving toward as well.

In a statement to Channel 11, District Attorney Stephen Zappala said:

“Almost two years ago, our office began attaching video evidence as an exhibit to an affidavit in certain cases...Absent a change in state law, releasing investigative video information without it being a public record is potentially a violation of the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record information Act.”

But a change in state law could be gaining momentum.

State Rep. Dan Miller has pushed for more transparency with body camera footage in the past and believes this current climate could lead to that long sought-after reform.

“I do not believe you will restore any degree of faith in the way that will help citizens or law enforcement if we do not find ways to increase accessibility and transparency,” Miller said.

Several measures of police reform have been introduced in Harrisburg, and Miller said it’s critical something gets done this year. Two Republican lawmakers told Channel 11 they are willing to consider ways to increase transparency.

Mayor Peduto names members of Pittsburgh Community Task Force on Police Reform Mayor Peduto names members of Pittsburgh Community Task Force on Police Reform

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