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Colorado Prosecutor At Capitol Hill On Body Cameras: 'We Don't Hide From The Facts'

WASHINGTON, DC (CBS4)- The federal government asked Jefferson County District Attorney Peter Weir to testify about police body cameras. This as the Department of Justice planned to launch a $20 million pilot program aimed at expanding the use of body cameras worn by police officers across the nation.

"The accountability and transparency associated with video recording is very, very important, but the back-end of this is what are we going to do with it? This is, in fact, is evidence that is being collected," said Weir.

Weir went before a congressional subcommittee on Tuesday and warned that before the federal government rolls out body cameras across the country, a lot of thought needs to be conducted first.

"There are many, many considerations," said Weir.

The Colorado District Attorney's Council released a report that addresses everything from when to turn the cameras on to who has access to the video and how long it is stored.

"Resources are a huge issue, not just with respect to money involved with the data storage, but the personnel associated with that," said Weir.

Police Body Camera
(credit: CBS)

Tuesday's hearing came two weeks after the Justice Department announced the grant program for body cameras. Some lawmakers believe the money should come with conditions. But Weir cautioned against federalizing local police forces, "In this discussion one size doesn't fit all."

The committee also heard from police, sheriffs and a civil rights expert, all taking up concerns of transparency, privacy and hackers.

"This is really complicated," said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat representing Rhode Island.

POLICE BODY CAMERA
A body camera (credit: CBS)

"Is this something worth pursuing, is the benefit greater than the cost, Mr. Weir?" asked Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican representing South Carolina.

Weir answered, "I think potentially, yes.

"From law enforcement and prosecutors' perspective, our goal is to pursue the truth, our goal is to achieve justice. We don't hide from the facts, and if in fact the video recroding helps establish those facts, then it's a tool that should be used."

Colorado isn't waiting for the federal government to make a decision. Nearly 80 percent of police departments and sheriff's offices in Colorado either have or are considering small cameras.

State lawmakers in Colorado passed a bill earlier this month to develop best practices and help with funding.

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