But like many agencies, the LAPD does not plan to routinely release those videos to the public.
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Why did Fresno release the video?
Authorities in California on Wednesday released body-camera footage showing two police officers fatally shooting a 19-year-old white man named Dylan Noble.
Was deadly force, in particular the final two shots – taken by two different officers – necessary?
“However, I also believe this video is going to raise questions just as those questions exist in my mind as well”. The video was shown last week to Noble’s father and stepfather.
One of the officers told investigators that “he thought Noble was either taunting him or was practicing pulling out a gun”, said Dyer, Reuters reports. Police in the area were responding to a call about a man walking around with a rifle.
You can hear the officer ordering Noble to show him both of his hands.
“Get on the ground now!” officers continually shout at Noble in the video released by police Wednesday. “Let me see your hand!”
The video shows Noble first draws officers’ attention when he screeched his truck’s tires while they were searching for an armed man. An officer tells Noble that, “If you reach one more time, you will get shot again”.
Noble did not comply with officers’ orders and turned around to face them.
One of the officers fired twice, then once more when Noble was on the ground after his hand moved toward his waistband.
That’s when police fired upon Noble, who immediately hit the ground and revealed he didn’t have anything in his concealed hand.
When he falls to the ground, it appears both of his hands are empty and contain no weapons; however, Noble continued to move around. “Stop. Dude”, a second officer said, before firing a shotgun at Noble.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the object in his hand was malleable clay.
Why do departments oppose releasing body camera videos?
They generally cite issues of privacy for both the officers and those with whom they come in contact.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has said he did not expect to disclose footage in the majority of cases.
The shooting is under investigation by internal affairs, who will determine if the shooting was within policy, and the DA’s office, who will determine if the officers should face charges, according to CNN. They also said he probably didn’t pull over immediately and instead drove to the gas station because the wheels on his truck put him up too high to have an ordinary interaction with police via his driver’s side window. “I don’t think that transparency means we post every interaction on YouTube”.
” ‘There has been a great deal of concern in the community and rightfully so, ‘ says Dyer. And I don’t think it’s the right thing to do”.
His decision is expected to heighten the debate about whether video from body-worn cameras on officers should be routinely made public.
He added that he wanted to release the video last week, but the fatal shooting of five police officers during a Dallas protest last week gave him pause.
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Body-cam footage from the two officers involved can be seen here.
