'Ethical policing': Body camera protocol bill advances to Oklahoma Senate

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — An Oklahoma lawmaker is working to change how law enforcement agencies use their body cameras.

"I think it's a good bill," State Rep. Ross Ford (R-Broken Arrow) said. "I think it's going to show a lot of transparency, and it's going to make the reports that our officers are writing more accurate."

Ford helped write House Bill 3598, which would allow officers to review their body camera footage before writing a report.

He says based off his experience in law enforcement, only some agencies can review their bodycam footage before writing a report. Ford wants to change that.

"In stressful situations sometimes you may recall something one way when it really happened another way. This is just to make sure the report reflects what's on the body camera."

His legislation would also let law enforcement agencies create their own "general guidelines" for bodycam use.

"I don't think that we should have one statewide policy that enforces the local government to comply with what the state is saying on these body cameras."

20 lawmakers voted against Ford's bill on the House floor Monday, including State Rep. Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City).

"I had a lot of questions on this bill," State Rep. Dollens said. "Primarily: accountability and transparency. While I think accuracy is really important, a firsthand account is also important. That way the few bad actors out there, which there are some in every industry, can't get their story straight to corroborate in a way that could be misleading - when it comes to getting to the bottom of justice."

Dollens tells Fox 25 it's important to have a uniform set of laws and rules across the state relating to body cameras.

"The more uniform our laws are, in transparency and accountability, the less likely those bad apples could take advantage of the system."

Despite these arguments, the bill is now moving onto the Senate floor after 72 lawmakers voted in favor of it.

"Even though I came from law enforcement, I believe in ethical policing," State Rep. Ford said. "I want to make sure that if we have an officer that is out of line that he's dealt with."

Fox 25 reached out to the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office (OCSO), but both agencies tell our newsroom they won't comment on any pending bills.