The big questions that I want to know from yesterday's shooting in Englewood involve body cameras.

-Did any of the three officers have their body cameras on? (Sun-Times reporter tweeted they did not)

-If not, why weren't they on?

(THREAD)
1/

CPD spokesperson did not answer that question but said "That would be part of the COPA investigation."

I've reached out to COPA and have not heard back. When I do, I'll post their answer.

(My guess is that I will be told they can't share during an ongoing investigation)

2/

Here is the statement @ChicagoCOPA put out earlier today:

According to COPA, the shooting victim was fleeing CPD and fired at officers (But no mention of body camera or POD cam footage).



3/

For those wondering...here is the Chicago Police Department body camera policy:

"The decision to electronically record a law-enforcement-related encounter is mandatory, not discretionary, except where specifically indicated."

3/

"The Department member will activate the system to event mode at the beginning of an incident and will record the entire incident for all law-enforcement-related activities."

4/

"If circumstances prevent activating the BWC at the beginning of an incident, the member will activate the BWC as soon as practical. Law-enforcement-related activities include but are not limited to:"

5/

Here is the link to the body camera policies for CPD:
(This is from 2018 but if there is a more updated version please DM or link me)

6/

http://directives.chicagopolice.org/directives/data/a7a57b38-151f3872-56415-1f38-89ce6c22d026d090.html#:~:text=According%20to%20law%2C%20no%20officer,no%20reasonable%20expectation%20of%20privacy.

I will update any responses from @chicagocopa when I receive them.

I've also sent a FOIA request for the body camera footage, should it exist.

#Chicago

7/

It shouldn't take weeks or months for body camera footage to come out. Essentially, that footage belongs to the public.

Officials should review it & release it.

& if the footage doesn't exist, it's a real problem that 3 CPD officers all didn't have their body cameras on.

8/

Body camera footage keeps everyone accountable. If the narrative that CPD and COPA are stating is true, body camera footage will show us demonstrable proof.

There should be no pushback from anyone about body cameras.

9/