Democratic State Representative John Carmichael says the statute being referenced was passed in 2015. “The bill that we passed in 2015 was a result of hard work that began well before the legislative session. That bill had bi-partisan support. It also had support of Kansas law enforcement, as well as the Kansas press association,” explains Carmichael. “That does not mean that it is a perfect bill.”
…“It is a mistake for law enforcement to not release video associated with officer involved shootings, because it undermines confidence in law enforcement,” says Carmichael. “That’s bad for police. That’s bad for the public. That’s bad for our society.”
…“The public has a right to know whether their law enforcement officers are fairly enforcing the law. It is important to the integrity of law enforcement that the public see what occurred and weigh what they see in the video with what they hear from law enforcement and district attorneys. On the other hand, it is also important to protect the privacy of victims of crime.”
…“This is a rapidly evolving technology, as well as the law. What we passed in 2015 was a good start, but cases like we are talking about here today are why it is not perfect legislation. I would not at all be surprised, within the next few years, that we revisit that statute in light of what has happened subsequent to its implementation.”