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Montana politics, elections and legislative news

Lawmakers Consider Police Body Camera Study

The Capitol dome in Helena, MT.
William Marcus
/
Montana Public Radio

Today at the Montana Legislature, the House Judiciary Committee heard a request to study the use of body cameras on police officers statewide.

The Montana Police Protective Association supports the study, but has concerns that police body cam use post-Ferguson is far too unregulated and has led to confusion.

Mark Murphy of the Montana Association of Chiefs of Police agrees.

“Government has no right to privacy, but everybody that we deal with does have a right to privacy.”

No one opposed the study, but some legislators requested certain aspects be addressed. Representative Bruce Meyers says one issue to study is race relations between police and Montana’s Native American population.

“Will the body cameras be used to gather data in relation to race?"

If passed, the study would take place over the next two years. The committee did not take action on the proposal.?

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