File #: Res 0376-2024    Version: * Name: Require MTA police officers to wear body-worn cameras. (A1552)
Type: Resolution Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 4/18/2024
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A1552, which would require MTA police officers to wear body-worn cameras.
Sponsors: Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Farah N. Louis, Amanda Farías
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Attachments: 1. Res. No. 376, 2. April 18, 2024 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 3. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 4-18-24, 4. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - April 18, 2024
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
4/18/2024*Public Advocate Jumaane Williams City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
4/18/2024*Public Advocate Jumaane Williams City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Res. No. 376

 

Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A1552, which would require MTA police officers to wear body-worn cameras.

 

By the Public Advocate (Mr. Williams) and Council Members Louis and Farías

 

Whereas, In June 2019, then-Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a plan to hire 500 additional Metropolitan Transportation Authority  (MTA) police officers to patrol New York City’s subway system; and

Whereas, In December 2019, the MTA board approved the Governor’s plan, allocating an estimated $250 million over four years to expand the MTA’s police force by 64 percent to purportedly combat crime, fare evasion, and the system’s homelessness population; and

Whereas, The New York Police Department (NYPD) has equipped all uniformed patrol officers with body-worn cameras to record their interactions with community residents; and

Whereas, MTA police are not members of the NYPD, and are not required to wear body-worn cameras; and

Whereas, Research from Arizona State University shows officers with body-worn cameras have fewer complaints lodged against them; and

Whereas, A study conducted with Rialto Police Department in California shows decreases in civilian complaints lodged against officers wearing body-worn camera and decreases in use-of-force incidents by the police; and

Whereas, A1552 introduced by Assemblymember Karines Reyes, would require MTA police to wear body-worn cameras and directs the chief of the MTA Police Department to establish rules and regulations pertaining to body-worn cameras; and

Whereas, The use of body-worn cameras would increase transparency and accountability, which can help improve law enforcement legitimacy at a time when communities lack trust and confidence in law enforcement; and

Whereas, The use of body-worn cameras also offer the opportunity to improve training as law enforcement officials can assess police activities and behaviors captured by body-worn cameras; and now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass, and the Governor to sign, A1552, which would require MTA police officers to wear body-worn cameras

 

Session 13

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01/17/2024

 

Session 12

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