Colorado Springs: Bodycam videos to be released in 21 days
Denver, CO – The Colorado Springs Police Department has taken a new step toward much-needed police accountability. From now on, the Colorado Springs PD will release bodycam videos of any “significant event” within 21 days of the incident. The term significant event refers primarily to police shootings and death in custody,
“This is about us being transparent with our community and was largely started by the Transparency Matters report that was done last year,” said Lt. Pamela Castro, Colorado Springs police spokeswoman.
The new policy goes a step beyond what Colorado House Bill 21-1250 requires of every state and municipal law enforcement agency in the state — to provide body camera footage within 21 days of a request. Even in the case of active ongoing investigations, law enforcement agencies must still release bodycam videos within 45 days.
Colorado Springs police will automatically release video footage of significant events, with no outside request required.
In Denver, however, you will need to contact an experienced police brutality lawyer and file an official request to have a bodycam video released.
Can bodycam videos be altered?
Unfortunately, police departments around the country routinely edit any bodycam videos released to the public so the officers’ actions appear justified.
In California, for instance, the Vallejo police were accused of releasing a heavily-edited video showing the shooting of Ronell Foster. The footage did not contain the moment when the man, stopped for an alleged traffic offense, was shot in the back.
If that happens, the victim needs to speak with seasoned police brutality lawyers and force the police department to release the undoctored footage.
Is a conviction necessary to obtain damages in a police brutality lawsuit?
When you file a claim for police brutality, that is a civil case and it has nothing to do with any criminal charges the officers involved may be facing.
Take, for instance, the recent De’Von Bailey case. Bailey, a 19-year-old man was shot in the back by Colorado Springs officers. CSPD initially rejected calls to release the bodycam footage, but later walked back on that decision.
The footage showed Bailey fleeing from police when he was shot and killed which is exactly what his family’s lawyers wanted. On the other hand, the video also showed the young man had a gun and the officers had reason to fear he was reaching for it when they opened fire.
Each side got what it wanted. A grand jury decided not to press charges against the law enforcement agents involved in the shooting. As for the civil case, the city agreed to settle a wrongful-death suit of nearly $3 million with Bailey’s family rather than go to court.
As a matter of fact, most civil rights lawsuits are settled out of court and bodycam footage is often the only evidence needed. However, your lawyers will also check the officer’s record to see whether there’s a pattern of violence and if the head of the department was aware of the problem and took no steps to remedy it.
If you were a victim of any type of police misconduct, you should contact an experienced civil rights lawyer at the Bryan & Terrill law firm to see if you have a case. If your civil rights were violated you deserve justice.
Contact info:
333 W. Hampden Ave., #420B
Englewood, CO 80110
(720) 923-2333
