OGIS
05-29-2016, 11:59 AM
How convenient.
Cleveland police in riot gear won't wear body cameras during RNC
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Many Cleveland police officers will not be wearing body cameras if protests turn violent during the Republican National Convention, officials said.
Police officials have told officers that a host of logistical issues, including an inability to attach the cameras to police riot gear, means officers will not be able to wear the devices.
The department says officers will use other methods to record police interactions with protesters and the public during the convention. But the head of a police union and the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio expressed concern that the officers who will be thrust in the most volatile situations will not be wearing a device that is a deterrent for both violence against police and officer misconduct.
"To have those body cameras and not allow us to wear them is absolutely irresponsible," Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President Steve Loomis said Friday.
Christine Link, executive director at the ACLU of Ohio, called the news a "serious concern."
"There's no way that [police] have enough people doing video to cover what body cameras would cover," Link said.
The four-day convention, from July 18-21, is expected to draw 65,000 delegates, dignitaries, and reporters from around the world, as well as thousands of protesters.
Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams said in a September to officers the convention would bring "challenges of historic proportions" and stretch the department "to its current limits."
The city plans to bring in thousands of officers from police departments to help provide security. Whether those officers wear body cameras will be up to their department, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said.
Cleveland's police force will wear....
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/cleveland_police_in_riot_gear.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link
Dive bar rules apply.
Cleveland police in riot gear won't wear body cameras during RNC
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Many Cleveland police officers will not be wearing body cameras if protests turn violent during the Republican National Convention, officials said.
Police officials have told officers that a host of logistical issues, including an inability to attach the cameras to police riot gear, means officers will not be able to wear the devices.
The department says officers will use other methods to record police interactions with protesters and the public during the convention. But the head of a police union and the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio expressed concern that the officers who will be thrust in the most volatile situations will not be wearing a device that is a deterrent for both violence against police and officer misconduct.
"To have those body cameras and not allow us to wear them is absolutely irresponsible," Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association President Steve Loomis said Friday.
Christine Link, executive director at the ACLU of Ohio, called the news a "serious concern."
"There's no way that [police] have enough people doing video to cover what body cameras would cover," Link said.
The four-day convention, from July 18-21, is expected to draw 65,000 delegates, dignitaries, and reporters from around the world, as well as thousands of protesters.
Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams said in a September to officers the convention would bring "challenges of historic proportions" and stretch the department "to its current limits."
The city plans to bring in thousands of officers from police departments to help provide security. Whether those officers wear body cameras will be up to their department, Cleveland police spokeswoman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said.
Cleveland's police force will wear....
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/cleveland_police_in_riot_gear.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link
Dive bar rules apply.