Philly police watchdog's body cam audit shows progress
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Department of Justice
Philly officers working in a district flagged for not following department body cam policies are more frequently turning on their cameras while interacting with residents, a new audit found.
Why it matters: The 24th District is making "progress," but the city's body cam program still has some "systemic weaknesses," says Tonya McClary, who heads the independent watchdog Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC).
Driving the news: CPOC's latest audit, published Wednesday, examined 73 cases from the 24th District — which covers Kensington, Port Richmond and Juniata Park — and found 88% of them included body cam footage.
- That's an improvement for the district that the Defender Association of Philadelphia had reported for repeated body cam noncompliance.
Yes, but: Slightly more than half of those recordings fully complied with department policies, including a mandate that officers capture entire interactions.
By the numbers: Nearly 40% of recordings either started late or ended early, CPOC says.
- Of 33 videos that ended early, officers only narrated the reasons for turning off the cameras early on two of them, as required by department rules.
What they're saying: Philadelphians can't be assured the program is successful unless officers are fully compliant with all body cam policies, McClary says in a statement.
- Michael Mellon of the Defender Association of Philadelphia tells Axios that additional oversight of the department is crucial, and emphasized the importance of disciplining officers "manipulating the rules."
💡 1 bright spot: None of the officers recorded interactions they weren't supposed to, such as conversations with informants or in spaces where people expect to have privacy.
The other side: The Police Department tells Axios it has reviewed CPOC's audit and recommendations for improvement.
- "We are a learning organization," spokesperson Sgt. Eric Gripp says. "We remain committed to ensuring that our policies and practices continue to evolve to best serve the people of Philadelphia."