HARRISBURG, Pa. — Lawmakers in Harrisburg are working on legislation that would give more game wardens and waterways officers the choice to wear a body camera while on duty.
“It's a neutral, objective witness to the occurrences [that happen]," said Jason Raup, assistant counsel for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. "What statements were made, what actions were taken.”
Raup is also a deputy game warden.
Current state legislation allows full-time state game wardens and waterways conservation officers to wear body cameras. Both are law enforcement and have the power to arrest.
But a new bill set to be referred to the committee next month by Senator Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, & Wyoming) would expand that to include deputies as well.
“This isn’t a mandate. This is allowing each of the agencies to implement this," explained Sen. Baker.
Both agencies tell FOX43 they support the proposed legislation.
While certain waterways officers can already legally wear body cams, the Fish & Boat Commission is still in the process of buying the equipment.
But cameras have been in the Game Commission’s arsenal for over a decade.
“Our agency has both found examples of where our officers could have done it better but by and large, the benefits have shown we’ve been able to eliminate and reduce false complaints through a reflection of what the video actually shows," said Raup.
As with other law enforcement, the Game Commission views a body cam as a tool to increase transparency and accountability.
“Both accountability for our officers in doing their job in the manner expected by the public, but also accountability for the public in their mannerisms in how they engage our law enforcement officers," said Raup.
“It’s a commonsense mechanism, it’s a tool I think protects everyone and I think it’s a step we need to take," added Sen. Baker.
For the Game Commission, the expansion would call for double the cameras it already has, along with all the necessary training, which is something it knows won’t come cheap.
“The question is the value of having a body camera program worth the expense? And what we’ve seen so far is that it is," said Raup.
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