[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 182 (Friday, November 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1536]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  INTRODUCTION OF THE FEDERAL POLICE CAMERA AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 
                                  2018

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2018

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I, along with Representative Donald 
S. Beyer Jr., introduce the Federal Police Camera and Accountability 
Act of 2018. This bill would require uniformed federal law enforcement 
officers to wear body cameras and marked police vehicles to have 
dashboard cameras. It would also require the Government Accountability 
Office to conduct a study on federal police officers' training, vehicle 
pursuits, use of force and interaction with citizens.
  On November 17, 2017, Bijan Ghaisar was fatally shot in his car by 
uniformed U.S. Park Police officers in Fairfax County, Virginia, after 
a vehicle pursuit on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Video of 
this shooting only became available through a camera in a Fairfax 
County Police Department patrol car that was providing backup. Had it 
not been for that footage, which was recorded and released by that 
local police department, the public would not have had access to the 
circumstances surrounding Mr. Ghaisar's death. Moreover, the footage 
revealed concerns about the Park Police's pursuit and engagement 
policies.
  Body-worn and dashboard cameras for federal law enforcement officers 
are particularly important for the officers stationed in the nation's 
capital, where Park Police and the uniformed division of the U.S. 
Secret Service have full local police powers. Many other federal police 
also have local police powers near their respective agency buildings in 
the District. Cameras can increase transparency for individual 
interactions with police, strengthen public trust and even deter future 
criminal behavior. For example, when criminals know that they are being 
recorded by a dashboard camera, they may be less likely to flee the 
scene of a traffic accident because they realize that their license 
plate will be documented. Criminals may also be less likely to batter 
an officer because the recording may be used as evidence. On the other 
hand, officers will also be less likely to commit offenses for the same 
reason. Body-worn and dashboard cameras can also be used to train 
current and future officers more effectively in best and worst 
practices.
  An increasing number of local law enforcement officers, including 
those in the District of Columbia, are wearing body cameras and using 
dashboard cameras. It is clear that both law enforcement and the public 
would benefit from federal officers following suit to increase 
transparency and maintain public trust.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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