Jolt
Afternoon Jolt: Council Member Bruce Harrell
Today's winner: City Council member Bruce Harrell.
The council committee meeting to discuss the possibility of body-mounted cameras for police officers is still ongoing, but today's winner is already clear.
A crowd of citizens lined up this afternoon to testify in favor of the cameras (with just one citizen opposed --- because she didn't feel the camera legislation went far enough to promote police accountability) and to praise Harrell, who's up for reelection. Harrell has been championing the cop cam issue for more than a year.
Sample comments: "Ian Birk (the officer who shot Native American woodcarver John T. Williams) would have had a different reaction if he had had a body camera." "Bruce, don't let these turkeys bring you down. I think you should run for mayor!" And: "[Council public safety chair] Tim Burgess [who is not at today's meeting] is an ex-policeman who does not like homeless people. Remove him [from the committee]!"
Harrell, whose opponent, Brad Meacham, does not support body cameras, has clearly found his campaign issue. If not an issue for 2013.
The council committee meeting to discuss the possibility of body-mounted cameras for police officers is still ongoing, but today's winner is already clear.
A crowd of citizens lined up this afternoon to testify in favor of the cameras (with just one citizen opposed --- because she didn't feel the camera legislation went far enough to promote police accountability) and to praise Harrell, who's up for reelection. Harrell has been championing the cop cam issue for more than a year.
Sample comments: "Ian Birk (the officer who shot Native American woodcarver John T. Williams) would have had a different reaction if he had had a body camera." "Bruce, don't let these turkeys bring you down. I think you should run for mayor!" And: "[Council public safety chair] Tim Burgess [who is not at today's meeting] is an ex-policeman who does not like homeless people. Remove him [from the committee]!"
Harrell, whose opponent, Brad Meacham, does not support body cameras, has clearly found his campaign issue. If not an issue for 2013.
