The police reform resolutions recommended by the Public Safety Committee of the Metro Council include a request to state lawmakers to "[a]mend the Open Records Act to require [police] departments to release body camera footage, 911 calls & other communications after critical incidents."
The act presumptively does this already. It presumes openness.
This is a statement of existing law (absent proof of actual concrete — not speculative — harm to the ongoing investigation).
The act also provides penalties for the willful withholding of public records. Ignoring existing law is willful.
But ð to embedding it in the law — maybe then law enforcement agencies will comply.
Or do we dare, knowing that any proposed amendment of the open records law opens the door ð to lawmakers intent on undermining our existing law?
