Accountability, Transparency Concerns Remain In Body Camera Debate

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — New legislation proposing body camera guidelines for Minnesota police and dictating how resulting footage is handled hasn't resolved nagging issues between accountability goals and transparency concerns.

State lawmakers struggled Wednesday to strike the appropriate balance as police interests and watchdog groups pulled them in competing directions. One lawmaker lamented how far apart the sides remain in writing statewide rules even as more portable cameras are deployed in departments around Minnesota.

Prior legislative efforts to craft a body camera law stalled. The new proposal contains more restrictions on when recordings are made while offering limited public access to the resulting footage.

Police groups argued for even tighter data control. Police accountability advocates said they were leery about walling too much off.

No vote was taken. The debate will resume next year.