Detroit Council Passes Police Body Cam Ordinance Amid Scrutiny

October 29, 2025

Detroit City Council passed a new ordinance in an 8-1 vote mandating that the Detroit Police Department publicly release body camera footage within 30 days following officer-involved shootings. However, police accountability advocates and some officials are criticizing the law's numerous exceptions that could allow authorities to delay or block footage release, including provisions permitting the prosecutor's office and corporation counsel to withhold videos until charging decisions are made. The law applies specifically to incidents where officers discharge firearms that could strike individuals or use force resulting in death or serious injury.

Who is affected

Detroit residents involved in police shooting incidents and their families
Detroit Police Department officers involved in shootings
Police accountability activists
Detroit City Council members (specifically Gabriela Santiago-Romero who voted against it, and Angela Whitfield-Calloway who defended it)
Willie Burton, District 5 city council candidate and police commission board member
The woman who was shot six times during an October 26 traffic stop
Wayne County Prosecutor's Office
Detroit's corporation counsel

What action is being taken

Detroit Police Department is required to publicly release body camera footage online within 30 days of officer-involved shootings
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison is asking police commissioners to suspend without pay the officer who shot a woman six times during the October 26 traffic stop
The Detroit Police Department must attempt to notify involved parties or family members and allow them to review footage before release

Why it matters

This ordinance matters because it represents an attempt to increase police transparency and accountability in officer-involved shootings, which directly impacts community trust in law enforcement. However, the numerous exceptions and lengthy 30-day timeline have sparked concerns that the law may not achieve meaningful transparency, as prosecutors and city attorneys retain significant power to block or delay footage release. The timing is particularly significant given the recent October 26 shooting incident where an officer violated department policies, demonstrating the real-world need for oversight mechanisms.

What's next

The law can potentially be strengthened and amended in the future, as suggested by Council Member Angela Whitfield-Calloway
Police commissioners will decide on Chief Bettison's request to suspend the officer involved in the October 26 shooting without pay
The officer who shot the woman during the traffic stop will be held accountable through unspecified means

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle