Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued an executive action on Monday requiring law enforcement officers to release bodycam footage of deadly incidents involving police within five days of the incident. The Governor’s Office says that the new legislation will “increase transparency and accountability” in Minnesota public safety.
The executive action will also allot $15 million in violence prevention grants. The order says that, “The funding will fill critical gaps in Minnesota’s public safety response as the pandemic has had a disproportionate response on communities of color.”
There are some restrictions to the requirements, as they only apply to specific Minnesota agencies. The body camera footage policy adjustments only apply to the Minnesota State Patrol, the BCA, Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement, Department of Natural Resources Enforcement and the Department of Corrections Fugitive Unit. He has also directed that each of those units be provided with funding to equip them with body worn cameras.
“Right now, we have an opportunity to create safer communities for all Minnesotans by building a public safety system focused on transparency, accountability, and violence prevention,” Governor Walz said in a statement regarding his executive action. He continued, “These policy changes and increased investments in safety – together with the Minnesota Police Accountability Act signed into law last summer and the bipartisan public safety plan this legislative session – get us closer to a system of public safety that truly protects all Minnesotans.”
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan also made a statement about the action. She said, “Creating meaningful, lasting change that makes our communities safer and dismantles generations of systemic racism in our state takes hard work and commitment.”
The order also extended to require more transparency and accountability for the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Board to provide more public information regarding the training that law enforcement officers receive.
– – –
Hayley Tschetter is a reporter with The Minnesota Sun and the Star News Network. She graduated with a degree in Communications from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul. Send news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Body Camera” by Tony Webster CC2.0.
