ABC News 4 - Sen. Tim. Scott Backs Body Camera Legislation as a 'Greater Protection'
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Sen. Tim Scott, a native of North Charleston, put his support behind the legislative effort in South Carolina to require all state and local police officers to wear body cameras.
Scott released a statement late Tuesday, and then reiterated it on Twitter Wednesday morning.
"I believe that having law enforcement officers wear body cameras provides greater protection for both law enforcement officers and citizens," Scott. "As the South Carolina Legislature begins consideration of S.47, a number of important questions must be asked and answered in regards to implementation of a body camera program. I look forward to a robust debate on those questions and making progress on this matter."
Scott went on to say that he would look at federal ways of helping.
"I am committed to working with communities, law enforcement, public officials and others to improve the interaction between police officers and communities throughout the nation," he said.
Scott was among several lawmakers to speak out early and condemn the killing of 50-year-old Walter Scott as he apparently fled from North Charleston police officer Michael Slager.
Scott had this to say on Twitter after the video of the shooting was released: "After watching the video, the senseless shooting and taking of #Walter Scott's life was absolutely unnecessary and avoidable. My heart aches for the family and our North Charleston community. I will be watching this case closely."
Scott also attended the funeral for the slain man.
Reps. Mark Sanford and Jim Clyburn, along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, state Rep. Bakari Sellers, and Gov. Nikki Haley also released statements. Members of the state's Legislative Black Caucus have also been particularly vocal in their vow to push through body camera legislation.
Statehouse Speaker Jay Lucas signed off on the body camera bill Wednesday morning, according to Rep. Gilliard. Gilliard says that will put the bill on the fast track to being passed by the Legislature.
Charleston County Senator Marlon Kimpson said the bill to mandate body cameras for all South Carolina law enforcement officers is overdue.
"I'm optimistic that either the senate or house version will be passed this year," Kimpson said. "I think the incident last week underscored the need for the general assembly to move forward quickly and implement a system a state wide system requiring all law enforcement officer who come into contact with citizens on public streets to wear body cameras.
Kimpson said they are still working on how the cameras would be purchased and maintained. The bill requires law enforcement officials to come up with body camera guide lines within six months after the bill passes. He said the shooting death of Walter Scott could have been prevented if his bill would have been passed sooner.
Advocates have been vocal in calling on Haley to pass a bill mandating patrol officers wear body cameras.
Hanahan Chief of Police Mike Cochran is one of the officers who testified about his concerns of privacy violations.
"I want a dedicated revenue stream that comes from something other than writing tickets. We don't write tickets just for revenue, we write tickets for egregious safety violations," said Cochran.
Cochran said he plans to testify next week again in Columbia, to make sure the legislation address both the long term funding and privacy issues.
Another big name in national politics is also lending his name to the cause. Rev. Jesse Jackson will visit Charleston on Thursday for a 5 p.m. prayer meeting at the International Longshoremen's Hall.
Sens. Marlon Kimpson and Clementa Pinckney, Reps. Robert Brown, Wendell Gilliard, Joe Jefferson, David Mack, and Seth Whipper, along with Rev. John Paul Brown, Pastor Thomas Dixon, Elder James Johnson, Lacretta Murphy and Diana Salazar-Guzman will serve as the host committee for Jackson's visit.
Slager was charged with murder last week and has been in a secure cell within the Charleston County Detention Center.
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