Mayor de Blasio Announces New Body Camera Footage Policy

June 16, 2020

More audio and visual footage to be released with new criteria

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio today announced new body camera footage release policy to promote transparency and accountability. All video and audio footage must be released within 30 days when: an officer discharges a firearm that hits or could hit someone; an officer discharges a taser in a way that results in death or substantial bodily harm; or an officer’s use of force results in death or great bodily harm. This new policy is effective immediately, and all footage will be publicly available online.

“I came into office with a promise to fundamentally change the way this city is policed - and that’s exactly what we’ve tried to do,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Historic wounds run deep and we know much work lies ahead, but we won’t give up.  This is another step in the right direction and we’re not stopping here.”

“This new policy is in line with the vigorous reform agenda the NYPD has been propelling for more than six years,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. “All officers are now equipped with body-worn-cameras, which provide a record of encounters between our officers and the New Yorkers we serve.”

This new policy expands upon the NYPD’s previous policy, which allowed the Commissioner 30 days to decide to release footage in incidents where: an officer’s use of force resulted in death or serious physical injury, and releasing footage is in public interest. 

The new policy requires release in the following instances:

• Officer discharges firearm that hits or could hit someone

• Officer discharges taser in a way that results in death or substantial bodily harm

• Officer’s use of force results in death or great bodily harm

Civilians involved or family will have a chance to view the footage before release. Footage will be publicly available online. The de Blasio Administration made a historic effort to provide all patrol officers and detectives with body cameras. 24,000 cameras are currently deployed to officers, which is the largest deployment in the nation.