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by O.F.Fascist
Tue Mar 12, 2019 8:08 pm
Forum: 2019 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: HB 2015 - Mandatory body cameras for SWAT
Replies: 8
Views: 4987

Re: HB 2015 - Mandatory body cameras for SWAT

On another forum a few people claiming to be law enforcement argued against body cams for SWAT because releasing the video would be violation of the privacy of the home of the individuals raided. :roll:
Grumpy1993 wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2019 4:10 pm If the legislature wants to restore Texans' faith in law enforcement, they will make the body camera videos available through the Texas Public Information Act.

"Texans have a right to know how their government is spending their tax dollars and exercising the powers granted by the people. Transparency and open decision-making are fundamental principles of the Texas Public Information Act, and they are essential to ensuring continued trust and confidence in officials and our government." - Ken Paxton, Attorney General of Texas
by O.F.Fascist
Mon Mar 11, 2019 6:32 pm
Forum: 2019 Texas Legislative Session
Topic: HB 2015 - Mandatory body cameras for SWAT
Replies: 8
Views: 4987

Re: HB 2015 - Mandatory body cameras for SWAT

Sounds like a good bill, when you explain it to others, there are three keys points.

Body Cameras required.
A department may not create or administer a Special Weapons and Tactics team or unit unless every officer on that unit is equipped with a body camera and the department has instituted policies and procedures to ensure that body cameras are turned on and recording during all unit action and remain on until the action is concluded by the arrest of all persons or at the time that all police personnel have left the premises.
The presence of a legal firearm can't be the only excuse for a SWAT use.
A department administering a Special Weapons and Tactics team shall institute policies designed to limit the deployment of that team to situations involving an imminent threat of serious bodily injury to civilians or officers. The determination to deploy a Special Weapons and Tactics team shall be based on consideration of evidence for an imminent threat to a persons or officers, and that the conditions are such that the suspect cannot reasonably be apprehended using routine methods.

The existence alone of a legally owned gun in the home of an individual does not constitute evidence of an imminent threat.


A captain or above has to sign off on using SWAT for a warrant.
When SWAT is deployed for a pre-planned warrant service or for an incident not involving ongoing violence, the basis for believing an imminent threat exists should be reviewed and approved by a supervisor at the level of Captain or above before the deployment, to include justification for warrant execution between the hours of sunset and sunrise.

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