The latest turn in the police body controversy is a new Indiana bill, backed by former sheriff of Blackford County and now State Representative Kevin Mahan. He wants to give police departments the right to either release or not release police body camera videos to the public. He said he wants the police to have the sole discretion, and it should be used as an exoneration tool, not an accountability tool. Opponents say the bill gives “law enforcement all the incentive to deny access to video and gives the public all the disincentive to fight for the ability to see how an officer actually acted in a controversial incident,” says Steve Key, whose organization represents more than 160 Indiana newspapers.
