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State Lawmakers Try Again to Require Cameras on Police Officers

WMUK

(MPRN-Lansing) On-duty police officers would be required to wear body cameras under a bill in the state House. A group of Democrats – mostly from Detroit – is sponsoring House Bill 4229. 

State Rep. Rose Mary Robinson (D-Detroit) points to decades of mistrust in her community between police and residents.

“It hasn’t been a good story,”

said Robinson. And the former criminal defense attorney says the circumstances surrounding recent high-profile police shootings around the country show there’s a need for more accountability.

“I think it’s in the best interest of my community and all of Michigan is we have a balance, a safeguard, between the citizens and the police,” she said. “And it also protects the police because there are many instances, I’m sure, where there have false allegations or accusations against them. It’s a two-way street.”

Similar legislation with bipartisan support failed to move in the last legislative session - in part because of concerns over who would pay for the cameras. Robinson says it should be up to the state to foot the bill and lawmakers should make it a budget priority.

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