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9 <br /> <br /> <br />Stakeholders Review <br />There are various organizations that were considered stakeholders in the implementation of a BWC <br />Policy and Implementation Program. All of the identified stakeholder groups were consulted and made <br />aware of our intention to implement a BWC program and our plan to fund such plan. These groups <br />included the St. Anthony-New Brighton School District, Law Enforcement Labor Services, The Tri-City <br />Body Camera Workgroup, The Ramsey and Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, The Harriet Tubman <br />Center, the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, Hedback, Arendt & Carlson PLLC – (St. Anthony <br />City Attorney), Hughes & Joseph Attorneys at Law – (Falcon Heights/Lauderdale City Attorney), and the <br />National Alliance on Mental Illness. They provided letters of support for the program and offered the <br />following interests and concerns: <br />• St. Anthony-New Brighton School District: “We think body-cameras help reduce officer <br />misconduct complaints and instill trust in our officers.” <br />• Law Enforcement Labor Services: “We believe that body-worn cameras have the potential to <br />significantly increase trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. <br />St. Anthony is no exception.” <br />• Tri-City Body Camera Workgroup: “We are aware that recent studies have shown that body- <br />worn cameras have led to an increase in community trust and transparency, have reduced the <br />number of officer complaints, increased the credibility and ease of evidence collection, and we <br />expect these same types of results in our communities as well.” <br />• Ramsey County Attorney’s Office: “...our office is...anticipating them to be a significant tool in <br />our duties as prosecuting attorneys. We see them as a vital resource in our office’s charging and <br />prosecuting decision-making process, including value as a potential evidence source for trial.” <br />They also spoke about the reduction in officer complaints and an increase in community trust <br />that BWCs will bring. <br />• Harriet Tubman Center: They recognize the trust and transparency that a BWC program brings. <br />However, they stated, “We have some concerns about the use of body-cameras in particular as <br />it relates to officers wearing body-cameras when entering one of our domestic abuse shelters. <br />Maintaining the confidentiality and safety of victims and bystanders is a core value of ours that <br />cannot be compromised.” <br />• Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women: “MCBW believes that law enforcement’s use of body <br />cameras can be a helpful tool in increasing law enforcement’s transparency with the public. We <br />also have concerns about how individual department’s policies can impact the privacy of victims <br />in their homes and in public.” <br />• Hedback, Arendt & Carlson PLLC: Similar to the Ramsey County Attorney’s statement. <br />• Hughes & Joseph: Trust and transparency, reduction of officer misconduct complaints, and as an <br />evidence collection tool. <br />• National Alliance on Mental Illness: “Their [body-worn camera] use is beneficial in terms of <br />transparency and accountability by police, but can be problematic in terms of personal privacy. <br />NAMI Minnesota advocates policies that protect the privacy of someone experiencing a mental <br />illness crisis. <br /> <br />27