Expanding law enforcement body cameras a bill worth supporting

IN THE NATIONWIDE ATMOSPHERE of heightened scrutiny on the performance of law enforcement officers, a bill that would expand body camera use by special agents with the office of attorney general, rangers with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and officers and deputies with the Pennsylvania Game and Fish and Boat Commissions makes a lot of sense. State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Carroll Township, and Pat Stefano, R-Fayette, were sponsors of Senate Bill 520, which passed the state Senate last month with support from local legislators. “This is a vital tool for law enforcement,” state Attorney General Dave Sunday said. “Office of Attorney General agents face dangerous individuals and situations each day when conducting investigations, executing search warrants and making arrests. Body cameras have proven to be a critical tool to protect law enforcement and the communities they serve. I urge quick passage of Senate Bill 520 to allow us to equip our agents with body cameras.” The bill also updates the legal framework for body camera usage by changing the definition of “law enforcement officer” under the Wiretap Act. This would add consistency in how body camera footage is recorded and managed, regardless of the department using it. The bill has moved on to the state House, where it received approval from the House Judiciary Committee earlier this month. So far the bill has received bipartisan support from Democrats and Republicans in the state House and Senate. The prime sponsor, Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Susquehanna, said it would help law enforcement in dangerous environments. Many of these officers often serve in remote or dangerous environments. Equipping them with body cameras helps protect their safety and provides a record of their interactions with the public. We hope the bill receives the same bipartisan support when it goes to the full House for a vote.