CARSON CITY – A bill has been introduced by Las Vegas Assemblyman Harvey Munford to the Committee on Government Affairs requiring police and others to wear a video recording device to monitor the conduct of officers in incidents involving minorities.
Some officers have biases and they may carry over into their job, says Munford, D-Las Vegas. “It would remove the doubt in a ‘he said, she said’ case."
A white police officer shot an unarmed black teenager in a Ferguson, Mo. last year and a New York man was choked to death during a confrontation. There were no grand jury indictments in either case.
Munford says he lives in West Las Vegas which has a 65 to 70 percent minority population. And he doesn’t know any recent questionable incidents in that area.
The bill AB 162, which was introduced last Friday is being called “well intentioned” by law enforcement officials but they question where’s the money to pay for this.
Chris Collins, executive of the Las Vegas Police Protective Association Metro, said Monday 300 to 400 officers are now wearing this video device. But he said it would create a $20 to $35 million unfunded mandate for the department as new officers are hired.
Stan Olsen, representing the Nevada Sheriffs and Police Association, believes this will eventually become law but adds the rural counties and the state cannot afford it now. Olsen said this is not a bad idea because it will clear officers or suspects in a confrontation.
Ron Dreher, who represents law enforcement agencies called the bill “well intentioned” and said it is the coming thing. But he also questioned how it would be paid for.
Munford’s AB 162 would not be effective until Jan. 1, 2016. And he agrees money will be an issue. “We have to make sacrifices and find the money somewhere.”
He says a similar bill has been introduced in the Senate but it exempts the rural counties.
Munford plans to meet with the legal department in the Legislature to explore what avenues might be explored to get the money for these video recorders.
Munford’s bill would apply to sheriff’s office, police departments and the Nevada Highway Patrol.
Jeff Fontaine, representing the Nevada Association of Counties, said he would have to study the bill further.
Collins said these devices cost about $1,000 and the battery in them last 14 to 15 months. They then have to be replaced because a new battery cannot be installed.
A major cost is storing the recorded data and the question is how long should they be retained. “Data storage can run $1 million a month,” said Collins.
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