With more cameras on police, more Minnesotans will be on camera. Who should control those videos? And how can we assure police accountability?

Photo caption: "Body cam image of Burnsville police using taser guns to stop a man who was hurting himself with a box cutter"

The Minnesota Legislature is poised to consider changes in the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act as it sets rules for access to police videos. One proposal favors police control of the videos. Another calls for more public access and control while shielding individual privacy. Meanwhile, current law covers many of the sensitive points in the debate.

Please join the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information for a discussion of law and policy options regarding body cameras and other video collected by police. The session will provide practical information to help inform journalists, lawmakers and the concerned public.

Panelists include:

• Burnsville Police Chief Eric Gieseke, whose force has used body cams for five years

• Dakota County Commissioner Mary Liz Holberg, who emerged during her years in the Minnesota House as one of the state’s top legislative experts on data practices

• Professor Nekima Levy-Pounds, who leads the Community Justice Project at the University of St. Thomas School of Law, the Minneapolis NAACP, and several other organizations speaking to the intersection of race, law, criminal justice, public education and public policy

Don Gemberling, the state’s top expert on the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, will moderate.

Our session will start with a free box lunch; attendance will be limited, so please reserve your space today.

MNCOGI board members include James Barnum, John Borger; Helen Burke, Treasurer; Bill Bushey, Hal Davis; Pat Doyle, Duchesne Drew; Matt Ehling, Secretary; Don Gemberling, Ibrahim Hirsi, Nancy Herther, Gary Hill, Chair; Jane Kirtley, Heidi Kitrosser, Amy Springer Riegelman, Sharon Schmickle, James Shiffer and Tom Steward.

For additional information contact: mncogi[at]gmail.com.