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Lawmakers want Arkansas police officers to be required to wear body cams

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Little Rock, Arkansas – A new bill introduced by two Republicans in the Arkansas senate would mandate that all state police officers wear body cameras while on duty.

Along with State Senator Clint Penzo (R-Springdale) as another principal sponsor, the bill was introduced on Friday by State Representative R. Scott Richardson (R-Bentonville).

The purpose of the bill, according to the two lawmakers, is to guarantee that the public and law enforcement personnel “are provided the protection of recorded interactions between law enforcement officers and the public.” Additionally, they claim that requiring the bodycams would assist ensure that “an accurate record of interactions between law enforcement officers and the public is available for legal and training purposes.”

Any law enforcement agency or public organization that hires police officers must mandate that officers wear body cameras if the legislature approves the requirement and the governor signs it.
While on duty, all official interactions between an officer and the public must be captured on camera.

The plan calls for both establishing guidelines for bodycam use and providing instruction on how to operate the camera.

If the proposal is approved in its current form, all law enforcement agencies will have to abide by this law by December 31, 2026.

At the moment, troopers of the Arkansas State Police do not wear bodycams, and the law does not require them.

 

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