Recently, a federal judge in California ordered the city of Gardena, CA to release video footage of the police shooting a suspect.
Although the city settled with the fatally shot individual’s survivors, the city lawyers argued that under the settlement they expected the video to remain sealed. The judge disagreed stating that the public should be able to see the video of the fatal shooting which lead to the settlement.
The judge apparently felt that since the settlement monies came from public funds the public has a compelling interest to see the videos and the police or city should not be able to have the video sealed to cover up any wrong doing.
With more police departments using body cameras and video cameras in cars, it does not appear that the issue of who has the right to see the video will be put to rest any time soon.
