Attorney General TJ Donovan testifies in the Senate Judiciary Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier in January. File photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger
After body camera footage shed light on several recent altercations involving police, Attorney General TJ Donovan recently reiterated his support for law enforcement officers’ use of the devices across the state — an initiative that has proven difficult to implement, despite widespread approval for the practice.
“I think they are the best evidence as to what transpired at the scene between a citizen and a police officer,” Donovan said in an interview Thursday. “It’s good for the police officer, it’s good for the community member. It clearly shows what transpired, and that’s always a good thing.”
Donovan’s statement, which he first spoke about on WCAX this week, comes after months of increased scrutiny around Vermont’s lack of statewide body cameras. In January, the Vermont State Police suggested that the Legislature use funds intended for body cameras to buy service rifles. Lawmakers were apprehensive and the money was not reallocated — but police officers will be getting new weapons this summer, while the purchase of body cameras remains pending.
Representatives from the Vermont State Police have consistently said they support body cameras. Storing footage, however, is expensive; Vermont State Police spokesperson Adam Silverman said that annual storage costs could exceed $220,000.
“Moving forward requires identifying an ongoing funding stream to cover these recurring costs,” Silverman wrote in an email.
He added that the VSP’s tactical unit already wear body cameras, but the state’s roughly 215 road troopers do not. According to Silverman, obtaining cameras for those troopers “remains one of our top priorities.”
Donovan agreed — and added that in his opinion, increased transparency is worth the cost.
“I think we have to be willing to pay when it comes to increasing transparency and increasing the public trust in law enforcement,” Donovan said. “We can’t lose those.”
According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont, body cameras are most effective when there are statewide policies regulating their use, including rules around when the cameras must be turned on. Donovan said that he did not know exactly what those policies might look like in Vermont, but he supports developing consistent procedures.
“I really am grateful for the good work of the Legislature on that,” Donovan said of coming up with funding and policy solutions for obtaining body cameras. “I’m grateful that the Vermont State Police under the leadership of Col. Birmingham really has endorsed and embraced the idea of body cameras.”
In recent months, body cameras have provided crucial information about several altercations between police officers and the public. Footage revealed a Burlington police officer punching a man who later died. It also showed the Burlington police pushing and tackling people — instances that sparked controversy over the officers’ use of force.
Donovan said that as both a state’s attorney and as attorney general, he has experienced several cases where body camera footage “has truly been the best evidence.”
“It is an incredibly helpful tool for prosecutors in order not only to review, but to dissect, frame by frame, what actually occurred in the pursuit so we can truly pursue and find justice,” Donovan said.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Attorney general urges broader use of police body cameras.