Washington
– U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
(R-SC)
today
requested
Senate
Judiciary
Chairman
Charles
Grassley
(R-IA)
and
Crime
and
Terrorism
Subcommittee
Chairman
Lindsey
Graham
(R-SC)
hold
a
hearing
on
the
use
of
body-worn
cameras
by
law
enforcement
officers.
Scott
wrote,
“I
believe
that
the
deployment
of
body-worn
cameras
will
provide
increased
protections
for
both
law
enforcement
officers
and
those
they
serve.
I
believe
that
the
deployment
of
body-worn
cameras
will
provide
increased
protections
for
both
law
enforcement
officers
and
those
they
serve.
At
least
one
study
shows
that
public
complaints
against
officers
wearing
body
cameras
fell
by
almost
90%
and
that
officers’
use
of
force
decreased
by
60%.
At
a
minimum,
we
owe
it
to
our
communities
and
law
enforcement
officers
to
consider
this
study
and
other
evidence
to
explore
the
wisdom
of
widespread
deployment
of
body-worn
cameras.
I
understand
that
there
are
multiple
and
complex
questions
surrounding
the
use
of
body
cameras,
including
privacy
concerns,
data
retention
and
disclosure
issues,
and
the
effects
of
recording
on
community
relationships.
It
is
essential
that
we
explore
these
and
other
concerns
as
we
foster
a
national
discussion
on
body-worn
cameras
at
a
public
hearing
in
Congress.”
Following
the
death
of
Walter
Scott
in
North
Charleston,
South
Carolina,
Senator
Scott has
supported
efforts
by
the
South
Carolina
State
Legislature
to
move
forward
with
hearings
on
body
cameras.
The
full
text
of
Senator
Scott’s
letter
is
below.
###
April
22,
2015
The
Honorable
Charles
Grassley
Chairman,
Senate
Committee
on
the
Judiciary
224
Dirksen
Senate
Office
Building
Washington,
D.C.
20510
The
Honorable
Lindsey
Graham
Chairman,
Subcommittee
on
Crime
and
Terrorism
157
Dirksen
Senate
Office
Building
Washington,
D.C.
20510
Dear
Chairmen
Grassley
and
Graham:
Thank
you
for
your
discussions
with
me
regarding
the
need
for
a
Senate
Judiciary
Committee
hearing
on
the
use
of
body-worn
cameras
by
law
enforcement.
The
critical
role
that
video
of
the
tragic
and
unnecessary
April
4
shooting
of
Walter
Scott,
a
resident
of
my
hometown
of
North
Charleston,
SC,
has
played
in
the
subsequent
investigation
is
undeniable.
I
believe
that
the
deployment
of
body-worn
cameras
will
provide
increased
protections
for
both
law
enforcement
officers
and
those
they
serve.
At
least
one
study
shows
that
public
complaints
against
officers
wearing
body
cameras
fell
by
almost
90%
and
that
officers’
use
of
force
decreased
by
60%.
At
a
minimum,
we
owe
it
to
our
communities
and
law
enforcement
officers
to
consider
this
study
and
other
evidence
to
explore
the
wisdom
of
widespread
deployment
of
body-worn
cameras.
The
vast
majority
of
our
nation’s
police
officers
are
honest,
hardworking
professionals,
and
these
cameras
can
positively
impact
their
mission
to
protect
and
serve.
I
understand
that
there
are
multiple
and
complex
questions
surrounding
the
use
of
body
cameras,
including
privacy
concerns,
data
retention
and
disclosure
issues,
and
the
effects
of
recording
on
community
relationships.
It
is
essential
that
we
explore
these
and
other
concerns
as
we
foster
a
national
discussion
on
body-worn
cameras
at
a
public
hearing
in
Congress.
Again,
I
appreciate
our
discussions
on
this
matter
and
anticipate
a
positive
outcome
as
we
move
forward.
Sincerely,
Tim
Scott
United
States
Senate