Nassau PBA Chief Opposes Plan For Police Dashcams, Bodycams
NASSAU COUNTY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The head of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association has voiced opposition to plans for dashboard cameras in police cars and cameras on police officers.
As WCBS 880's Marla Diamond reported, the department's change in policy comes just one day after a Nassau County police officer was indicted in connection with an assault caught on video.
Nassau PBA Chief Opposes Plan For Police Dashcams, Bodycams
President of the Nassau PBA James Carver called the move a knee-jerk reaction that could do harm.
"You talk about domestic violence victims out there that there's potential of being taped. There could be witnesses to the crimes that may not want to be on tape, you know, fear of their safeties" he said.
The pilot program is part of an 18-month overhaul of the police department's ethics policies.
Suffolk County already has dashboard cameras that are used in DWI arrests. And the NYPD will begin a pilot program using cameras to settle a stop and frisk lawsuit, Diamond reported.
The Nassau County PBA has already come out in support of Officer Vincent LoGiudice, 34, who is charged with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of third-degree assault in connection with the April 25 encounter involving Kyle Howell, 20. LoGiudice pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.
A second officer also allegedly involved was not named in the indictment.
Howell was initially charged with assaulting two police officers, witness tampering and several other charges, but those charges were dropped last month after a judge reviewed the video.
Officer LoGiudice, a seven-year veteran of the force, faces a maximum of seven years in prison. He has been suspended from the force without pay, CBS 2 reported.
Howell had said he plans to sue, claiming he was targeted and harassed. He also suffered facial fractures and attorneys said he has had surgery to repair an injured eye.
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