>>> THERE'S AT LEAST 100 MIGRANTS HERE TO CROSS THIS
JUNGLE, THE MOST DANGEROUS JUNGLE IN THE WORLD.
>> RECENTLY GANGS LOOKING FOR PREY HAVE SEEN A SHARP INCREASE
IN THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS CROSSING.
[ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE REFORM, PEOPLE OFTEN LOOK TO
BODY CAMERAS AS A SOLUTION, BUT IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.
>> WAIT, THERE'S NO PERSPECTIVE OF THE SHOOTER.
>> LIKE, SOMETHING ABOUT THIS ISN'T RIGHT.
>> MOVE YOUR CAMERA, DUDE.
>> ALL THREE BODY CAMERAS FALLING OFF?
IT'S SIMPLY NOT PLAUSIBLE.
>> WHAT OVERSIGHT IS THERE?
>> THERE IS NO OVERSIGHT.
[ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> IN NORTHWEST CLUM BEE YARKS ALONG THE BORDER OF PANAMA, THE
COLUMBIA NATIONAL POLICE ARE BUSY PATROLLING A NOTORIOUS
SMUGGLING GAP CONTROLLED BY COLUMBIA'S BIGGEST CARTEL.
[ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> BUT BEYOND THE DRUG TRADE, ANOTHER OF THE BIGGEST
COMMODITIES IS PEOPLE. MIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
PASS THROUGH THIS NOTORIOUS TREK OF DENSE JUNGLE.
[ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> FOR DECADES, MIGRANTS TRYING TO REACH THE U.S. HAVE HAD TO
CROSS THIS GAP, A GRUELING 60-MILE HIKE THAT IS THE LAST
STRETCH BETWEEN SOUTH AMERICA AND PANAMA.
BUT BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN BEGIN THE WALK INTO PANAMA, THEY'RE
CONFRONTED WITH AN OPEN WATER CROSSING ACROSS THE GULF.
SO MANY END UP STRANDED HERE IN THIS TOWN WITHOUT ANY AID FROM
THE COLUMBIAN GOVERNMENT. THEY TRAVEL PRIMARILY FROM CUBA,
HAITI, AFRICA. FLEEING POVERTY AND JOBLESSNESS.
NOW THE CARTEL'S HUMAN TRAFFICKERS HOPING TO EXTORT
THEM. [ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> THIS WOMAN WAS A NURSE IN CUBA AND FLED THE GOVERNMENT
SURVEILLANCE AND OPPRESSION. FOR GETTING HERE, SHE TRAVELED
THROUGH URUGUAY, PERU AND ECUADOR AND BRAZIL.
[ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> THIS GENTLEMAN FLED HAITI'S ECONOMIC CRISIS AND LANDED A
CHOP IN CHILE BUT THE COVID PANDEMIC FORCED HIM TO CONTINUE
MIGRATING NORTH. [ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> HE IS EAGER TO TURN A PROFIT CAN EASILY CONVINCE STRANDED
MIGRANTS TO CROSS THE GULF WITH THEM AT NIGHT IN THEIR ILL
EQUIPPED BOATS AND DOZENS DIE IN THE CHOPPY WATER EACH YEAR.
THE NEXT MORNING, MOST OF THE MIGRANTS WE MET AT THE BEACH
WERE GONE. I'M IN THE COMMERCIAL BOAT TO
THE ENTRY POINT. AND I'M CROSSING THE SAME EXACT
WATERS THAT MIGRANTS HAVE TO CROSS.
THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT I'M WEARING A LIFE VEST, THERE'S
FIVE MOTORS THAT ARE DRIVING THIS BOAT AND NONE OF THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT MIGRANTS CAN COUNT ON.
ON THE OPPOSITE SHORE WE FOUND THE GENTLEMAN WHO HAS BEEN
TRAFFICKING PEOPLE ACROSS THE GULF FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
RECENTLY, HE HAS SEEN A SHARP INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF
MIGRANTS CROSSING. [ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
MIGRANTS SMUGGLED ACROSS THE GULF HAVE TO FLY UNDER THE RADAR
OF THE NAVY, THE ARMY AND FACTIONS WITHIN THE CARTEL
HUNGRY FOR THE BUSINESS. WHEN WE WERE THERE, FOUR CROWDED
BOATS LANDED ON THE BEACH.
[ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> I WOULD SAY THERE'S AT LEAST 100 PEOPLE HERE, CHILDREN FROM
THE AGES OF 5 TO LITERALLY 3 MONTHS OLD.
AND YOU CAN SENSE A TRUE ANXIETY, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE
WOMEN, THAT ARE TRYING TO ENSURE THEIR CHILDREN ARE SAFE AND THAT
THEY MAKE IT IN ONE PIECE THROUGH THIS JUNGLE.
THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY THROUGH 66 MILES OF
THICK JUNGLE. IT'S THE ONLY OPTION FOR
MIGRANTS WITHOUT VISAS THAT HAVE COME THIS FAR.
IN 2019, MORE THAN 24,000 MIGRANTS FROM OVER 50
NATIONALITIES CROSSED THIS JUNGLE.
ABOUT 4,000 OF WHICH WERE CHILDREN.
ON THE TRAIL ARE POISONOUS SNAKES, SCORPIONS AND JAGUARS
BUT FAR WORSE ARE THE GANGS LOOKING FOR PREY.
THEY ARE VULNERABLE TO BEING ROBBED AT ANY TIME.
SO FAR THE TWO WOMEN IN FRONT OF ME AT THE BEGINNING HAVE BEEN
LEFT BEHIND. THEY STARTED WITH SHOES.
AND I SAW THEM COMPLETELY BAREFOOT BY THE TIME I LEFT
THEM. AT THIS POINT, I DON'T REALLY
KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. AHEAD OF ME, IT'S PRETTY SILENT.
IT'S PITCH BLACK. THE ONE THING YOU CAN HEAR,
THOUGH, THE MURMURING OF CHILDREN.
THAT'S THE ONE THING YOU DO HEAR.
[ CRYING ]
SO IT'S 3:30 A.M. RIGHT NOW AND THIS IS THE FIRST STOP WE HAVE
MADE SINCE THE BOATS ARRIVED. MIGRANTS ARE TAKING THIS AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO REST. MOMS ARE BREAST-FEEDING.
FAMILIES ARE STICKING TOGETHER. WE HAVE SEEN COUPLES THAT ARE
SLEEPING. AND RIGHT BEHIND ME THEY ARE
STARTING TO COLLECT THE MONEY THAT THE MIGRANTS OWE THEM.
EACH MIGRANT HAS TO PAY BETWEEN 20 TO $30 SO WE'RE STUCK HERE
UNTIL THEY MAKE SURE THAT EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR IS REAL.
AS THE MIGRANTS NEAR THE PANAMANIAN BORDER THE AREA WITH
THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF GANGS THE RISK OF ATTACK ONLY
GOES UP. IN FACT, IT'S ALMOST A MIRACLE
WHEN A MIGRANT ISN'T ASSAULTED WHILE IN THE PANAMANIAN AREA.
IT CAN TAKE UP TO TEN DAYS TO CROSS THE JUNGLE.
MIGRANTS EMERGE EXHAUST AND SOMETIMES SICK OR INJURED.
BUT DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS MORE THAN 45 CHILDREN HAVE SHOWN
UP ALONE HAVING LOST THEIR PARENTS ON THE JOURNEY.
AT A CAMP HERE IN THIS TOWN THE GOVERNMENT GIVES THE MIGRANTS
FOOD AND A SAFE PLACE TO SLEEP.
>> NO WAY.
>> SOON AFTER WE ARRIVED, WE WERE FORTUNATE TO FIND OUR
FRIEND FROM HAITI, SCHNEIDERSON. [ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
>> FOR THE NEXT TEN DAYS, HE MAY BE A RESPITE FOR THOSE OUT OF
THE JUNGLE, BUT IT LACKS ANY SORT OF HEALTH SERVICES OR
ASSISTANCE FOR CHILDREN. FOR THAT, THEY HAVE TO GO TO
ANOTHER CAMP UP RIVER. JUST WHEN YOU THINK THAT THIS
WHOLE JOURNEY MIGHT BE OVER FOR MIGRANTS, YOU SOON REALIZE
THEY'RE NOT REALLY OUT OF THE WOODS JUST YET.
IN ORDER TO MAKE IT TO THE MORE ESTABLISHED MIGRANT CAMPS, THEY
HAVE TO TAKE THIS EXACT BOAT RIDE FOR FIVE HOURS DOWN THIS
RIVER. SO, NATURE IS CONSTANTLY
PRESENTING ITSELF AS THIS OVERWHELMING BARRIER THAT
MIGRANTS HAVE TO OVERCOME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.
SO WE'RE JUST ARRIVING TO ONE OF SEVERAL SHELTERS SET UP BY THE
PAIN MAIN YAN GOVERNMENT FOR MIGRANTS THAT HAVE JUST ARRIVED.
WE HEARD THAT ONE OF THE CUBAN MIGRANTS WE MET IN COLUMBIA
MIGHT BE HERE, SO WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO FIND HER.
[ SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE ]
AT THAT POINT AFTER LIVING IN
DIRE CONDITIONS AND AFTER DAYS TREKKING THROUGH THE JUNGLE, SHE
DIDN'T KNOW IF SHE WAS STILL PREGNANT.
SHE FEARED SHE SUFFERED A MISCARRIAGE.
BUT AT LEAST MIGRANTS AT THIS CAMP CAN COUNT ON MEDICAL
SUPPORT FROM THE RED CROSS AND FROM UNICEF.
IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS, ALMOST EVERY MIGRANT IN THESE CAMPS
WILL BE TRANSFERRED BY THE PANAMANIAN GOVERNMENT TO COSTA
RICA, BUT THEY STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO UNTIL THEY REACH THE
U.S. BORDER, WHERE THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS DETAINED HAS RISEN IN
THE LAST FEW WEEKS. IN FEBRUARY ALONE, MORE THAN
100,000 MIGRANTS WERE APPREHENDED.
AND AS OF NOW, THE BIDEN/HARRIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO TURN
THE MAJORITY OF THEM AWAY.
>> THEY NEED TO WAIT. IT TAKES TIME TO REBUILD THE
SYSTEM FROM SCRATCH.
>> UNTIL THE U.S. REFORMS ITS IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, PEOPLE LIKE
SCHNEIDERSON WILL CONTINUE TO REMAIN STRANDED.
>>> 911, WHAT IS THE EMERGENCY?
>> THERE'S A GUY WALKING SOUTH ON BILLING STREET, HE HAS A MASK
ON. AND I DON'T KNOW.
SOMETHING IS SKETCHY.
>> OKAY.
>> BACKPACK. MASK ON.
>> STOP RIGHT THERE. STOP.
I HAVE A RIGHT TO STOP YOU
BECAUSE YOU'RE BEING SUSPICIOUS.
>> OKAY.
>> TURN AROUND.
>> ACTUALLY YOU'RE -- I'M GOING HOME.
>> RELAX OR I HAVE TO CHANGE THIS SITUATION.
>> NEWLY RELEASED BODY CAMERA VIDEO IS GIVING US NEW INSIGHT
INTO THE MOMENTS BEFORE ELIJAH McCLAIN'S DEATH.
>> 23-YEAR-OLD ELIJAH McCLAIN WAS ON HIS WAY BACK HOME FROM A
CONVENIENCE STORE IN AURORA, COLORADO, WHEN HE WAS STOPPED BY
POLICE.
>> JUST A NORMAL DAY IN HIS LIFE.
HE WAS WALKING UP THIS WAY WITH THE EARPHONES IN HIS EAR,
LISTENING TO MUSIC. POLICE ATTACKED HIM AND KILLED
HIM.
>> MUSIC.
>> HEY, SIR, CAN YOU STOP. WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS.
THEY WENT AND GRABBED HIM. THEY GET HIM UP AGAINST THE
WALL. THEY TACKLED ELIJAH TO THE
GROUND. CHOKE HOLD HIM.
FIRST THING HE DOES IS START RECITING WHO HE IS.
>> MY NAME IS ELIJAH McCLAIN. I WAS JUST GOING HOME.
I'M DIFFERENT.
>> HE'S ALREADY HANDCUFFED AND HE'S STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> SLOW DOWN A LITTLE BIT.
>> I DON'T KILL FLIES. I DON'T EAT MEAT.
>> DO WE HAVE ANYTHING OTHER THAN HIM BEING SUSPICIOUS?
>> NO.
>> THE VIDEO CAMERA SHOWS THEY HAD NO RIGHT TO KILL HIM.
YOU SEE IT. YOU HEAR IT.
IT'S VIDEO EVIDENCE. YET THEY'RE SAYING IT'S NOT
ENOUGH.
>> THE POLICE EVENTUALLY CALLED IN PARAMEDICS WHO INJECTED
ELIJAH CAN A POWERFUL SEDATIVE. HE SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK ON
HIS WAY TO THE HOSPITAL AND DIED THREE DAYS LATER.
>> WHO IS THIS FOR?
>> ELIJAH McCLAIN.
>> Reporter: HUNDREDS MARRING IN FRONT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
AND MUNICIPAL AURORA, COLORADO DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR ELIJAH
McCLAIN.
>> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DIDN'T PURSUE CHARGES AGAINST THE
OFFICER. THEY CLAIM ELI YA GONE FOR THEIR
GUN BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT THE BODY CAM FOOTAGE CAPTURED.
MAUREEN IS REPRESENTING MRS. McCLAIN AGAINST THE CITY, POLICE
AND FIRST RESPONDERS ON THE SCENE.
IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE THE FOOTAGE, BUT THERE'S NO
ACCOUNTABILITY. THERE'S NO JUSTICE RIGHT NOW.
WHY IS THAT?
>> ALL THREE OF THE OFFICERS WHO WENT HANDS ON WERE ABLE TO SHED
THEIR BODY CAMERAS. THEY ALL DISLODGED THEIR BODY
CAMERAS. AND SO WHAT WE SEE IS BODY
CAMERAS ON THE GROUND IN THE GRASDS
GRASS AND A LOT OF WHAT WE GET TO INTERPRET IS JUST THE AUDIO.
WHEN WE HEAR THE OFFICERS SAY, HE'S GOING FOR YOUR GUN, THEY
CAN SAY THAT KIND OF THING BECAUSE THEY'VE DROPPED THEIR
BODY CAMERAS TO THE GROUND.
>> THERE'S ONE MORE BODY CAMERA.
>> THE NOTION THAT ONE BODY CAMERA WOULD FALL OFF, I SUPPOSE
WE COULD ASSUME THAT THAT COULD HAPPEN.
BUT ALL THREE BODY CAMERAS FALLING OFF THE MOMENT THAT THEY
WENT HANDS ON WITH ELIJAH, IT'S SIMPLY NOT PLAUSIBLE.
>> MOVE YOUR CAMERA, DUDE.
>> THE AURORA POLICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR REQUEST
FOR COMMENT.
SADLY THE ELIJAH McCLAIN CASE IS
NOT AN ISOLATED INNOCENT.
>> AUTHORITIES IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, ARE PROMISING A
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THE POLICE SHOOTING OF ALTON
STERLING STERL
STERLING. BOTH OFFICER'S BODY CAMERAS
BECAME DISLODGED DURING THE ALTERCATION.
>> DEADLY-OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING AT A HOLLYWOOD GYM.
YOU CAN HEAR WHAT HAPPENED.
>> THE BIG CHALLENGE, OBVIOUSLY, IS THAT THERE'S NO BODY CAMERA
EVIDENCE WITH BREONNA TAYLOR'S CASE.
>> BODY CAMERAS HAVEN'T BEEN THE SILVER BULLET THEY WERE ONCE
EXPECTED TO BE, BUT THEY HAVE PROVEN THEIR POTENTIAL TO BE
POWERFUL TOOLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
>> BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE SHOWS A BALTIMORE POLICE OFFICER
PLANTING DRUGS AT A CRIME SCENE.
>> VIDEO OF A COP BRAGGING ABOUT ATTACKING PROTESTERS.
>> HIT.
>> THE OFFICER WEARING THE CAMERA WALKS AWAY.
THAT'S RESULTED IN A SERGEANT BEING PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE
LEAVE. IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA, THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IS KNOWN FOR ITS STRICT POLICY ON BODY
CAM USE.
>> WHERE ARE WE HEADED RIGHT NOW.
>> THE SUICIDAL PERSON MAY BE AT THE WALMART RIGHT AROUND THE
CORNER FROM HERE.
>> WOULD YOU BE TURNING ON YOUR BODY CAM RIGHT NOW.
>> YES, MY BODY CAM IS RIGHT WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR.
EVERYDAY, EVERY ENCOUNTER, THE BODY CAMERA SUP AND RUNNING.
WHAT'S GOING ON? YOU CALL FOR US?
>> I NEED AN AMBULANCE.
>> I LOVE CAMERAS. I WAS RESISTANT BUT I HAVE GROWN
TO LOVE THEM. THE MORE CAMERAS THE BETTER IN
MY OPINION. YOU GIVE ME A PATROL CAR, ALL
THIS TECHNOLOGY, TAKE AWAY RIGHTS, I CAN KILL SOMEBODY AND
IT'S OKAY. OF COURSE YOU SHOULD BE
SCRUTINIZED.
>> OFFICER'S REUSS'S BOSS MICHAEL CHITWOOD IS A VOCAL
ADVOCATE FOR BODY CAMS AND ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S EARLIEST
ADOPTERS.
>> WHEN I GOT ELECTED WE PUT THE BODY CAMERA PROGRAM ON STEROIDS.
EVERYBODY HAS BODY CAMERAS. INJURIES TO POLICE OFFICERS
DROPPED. INJURIES TO SUSPECTS DROPPED.
AND CRIME DROPPED. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO DOWNSIDE
TO HAVING THE BODY CAMERA, IN MY OPINION.
>> CAN YOU TAKE ME THROUGH VERY SIMPLY WHAT IS THE POLICY
REGARDING BODY CAMERAS HERE IN VOLUSIA COUNTY?
>> YEAH. WHEN YOU'RE PERFORMING A POLICE
FUNCTION, IT MUST BE TURNED ON.
>> UH-HUH.
>> YOU CANNOT TURN IT OFF UNTIL THE INNOCENT IS OVER.
FIRST OFFENSE YOU'RE GETTING WRITTEN UP.
SECOND OFFENSE, YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE TIME.
THIRD OFFENSE, GOOD CHANCE YOU COULD GET FIRED.
>> IT'S NOT JUSTING A CAMERA, IT'S REGULATING WHEN THEY SHOULD
BE ON AND WHAT AN OFFICER MUST DO.
>> POLICY ENFORCEMENT.
>> WHAT OVERSIGHT IS THERE FROM STATE LEVEL OR FROM A FEDERAL
LEVEL WITH REGARDS TO YOUR POLICY ON BODY CAMS?
>> THERE IS NO OVERSIGHT FOR IT. I AM THE OVERSIGHT FOR IT.
>> WITH NO OVERSIGHT, BODY CAM POLICY CAN VARY FROM POLICE
DEPARTMENT TO POLICE DEPARTMENT. JUST ONE COUNTY OVER IN ORANGE
COUNTY, FLORIDA, LAX BODY CAM ENFORCEMENT LEFT UNRESOLVED
QUESTIONS IN THE SHOOTING.
>> DEPUTY INVOLVED SHOOTING IN ORANGE COUNTY, A MAN WHO
INVESTIGATORS SAY WAS ARMED WITH A STOLEN GUN IS SHOT IN THE
PARKING LOT OF THE FLORIDA MALL.
>> 22-YEAR-OLD MELVIN WAS SHOT IN THE BACK WHEN UNDERCOVER
OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO EXECUTE A WARRANT ON ONE OF HIS FRIENDS.
THE MELVIN FAMILY'S LAWYERS CARLOS HAINES AND BRAD REQUESTED
THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THE SHOOTING FROM THE ORANGE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
>> THE SHOOTING HAPPENED ON A FRIDAY.
I CONTACTED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
WE WANT TO SEE THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.
THEY TOLD US THEY WEREN'T GOING TO LET US SEE THE FOOTAGE.
>> WHY NOT?
>> THEY SAID IT WAS STILL AN ACTIVE INFORMATION.
AND THAT THEY COULDN'T LET US SEE IT.
THAT WAS THEIR POLICY. AT THIS POINT, WE FELT LIKE WE
HAD TO PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THEM AND SO WE DID A MEDIA BLITZ.
>> THE TRUTH IS WHAT THE TRUTH IS.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T HIDE IT.
>> JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE IMPORTANT FOR OUR CLIENT TO SEE
HOW HER SON ACTUALLY DIED.
>> DOZENS SHOWED UP AROUND THE FLORIDA MALL FRIDAY DEMANDING
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE RELEASE BODY-WORN CAMERA FOOTAGE OF THE
SHOOTING.
>> EVENTUALLY THEY GAVE US PROBABLY ABOUT TEN DIFFERENT
CAMERA ANGLES, BUT NONE FROM MONTILE, THE SHOOTER.
>> THE FOOTAGE RAISED MORE QUESTIONS THAN IT ANSWERED.
>> COMING UP ON THE DICK'S SPORTING GOODS.
WE REFER TO AS THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
MELVIN'S MURDER.
>> SO WHAT ANGLE DID THE POLICE OFFICER'S BODY CAM ACTUALLY
CAPTURE THE SHOOTING FROM?
>> THAT'S THE ANGLE WE'RE COMING UP ON NOW.
YOU CAN TELL HE WAS GOING AT LEAST 20, 25 WITHIN THE PARKING
LOT.
>> ANOTHER DEPUTY HE PULLS HIS TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND THIS PATROL
VEHICLE THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALWAYS HERE.
THERE'S ANOTHER DEPUTY STANDING RIGHT THERE.
>> SHOOTER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHERE THAT STOP SIGN IS.
>> MELVIN IS ALREADY RUNNING THIS WAY.
>> OFFICER MONTILE SQUATS DOWN AND SHOOTS MELVIN IN THE BACK.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION WHEN YOU FINALLY SAW IT AND SAID,
WAIT, THERE'S NO PERSPECTIVE OF THE SHOOTER?
>> I WAS PISSED, BUT I ALSO SAID HERE WE GO AGAIN.
>> HERE IN ORLANDO, IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING WITH THE BODY CAMERA
FOOTAGE.
>> WHOSE FAULT IS THAT?
>> IT'S THE SHERIFF'S FAULT.
W. TAKE ME THROUGH THE SHERIFF
DEPARTMENT'S POLICY WHEN IT COMES TO BODY-WORN CANAL RA
COMES TO BODY-WORN CANALMERAS.
>> RIGHT NOW ALL OUR OFFICERS IN UNIFORM RESPONDING TO CALLS,
DETAINING PEOPLE OR ARRESTING PEOPLE ARE ALL ASSIGNED A BODY
WORN CAMERA. THEY'RE REQUIRED TO TURN THAT ON
ANY TIME THEY'RE INTERACTING DURING A POLICE INCIDENT.
>> WHAT ABOUT UNITS THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY SERVING WARRANTS,
DO ALL OF THOSE DEPUTIES HAVE BODY CAMS?
>> RIGHT. SO EITHER OR ALL OF THOSE UNITS
HAVE THEM OR WE'RE WORKING TOWARDS GETTING THEM.
>> OKAY, I SEE. IT'S STILL NOT EVERYONE.
>> I DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE.
>> NO TIMELINE. WHY NOT?
>> I DON'T HAVE A TIMELINE, YEAH.
>> DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THE TRUST OF THE COMMUNITY IS
SOMETHING THAT'S HARD WON AND WHEN THERE ISN'T A TIMELINE,
WHEN IT ISN'T A PRIORITY THAT SEEMS LIKE IT'S THE HIGHEST,
THAT THAT TRUST IS LOST A LITTLE BIT?
AND WHEN THERE ARE CASES LIKE A MELVIN CASE, THE SHOOTER DIDN'T
HAVE BODY CAM FOOTAGE.
>> PART OF THAT SHOOTING WAS CAPTURED BY BODY-WORN CAMERA.
>> THE PART THAT WOULD CORROBORATE WHAT THE DEPUTY
SAID, WHICH IS THAT MR. MELVIN TURNED WITH A HANDGUN, THAT
COULD HAVE BEEN CORROBORATED. THAT'S THE PART THAT THERE'S
STILL A QUESTION MARK ABOUT IT OR WE HAVE TO TAKE THE OFFICER'S
WORD FOR WHAT HAPPENED.
>> YEAH, I TOTALLY GET THAT.
>> DO YOU THINK THERE'S A CRISIS OF TRUST BETWEEN THE COMMUNITIES
THAT ARE BEING POLICED BY YOUR OFFICE AND YOUR DEPARTMENT?
>> WELL, HISTORICALLY THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LITTLE MISTRUST
BETWEEN SOME UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT,
BUT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING AND SUCCESSFUL IN SOME SITUATIONS TO
BUILD THAT TRUST. I THINK OUR EFFORTS ARE WORKING.
>> TWO WEEKS AFTER OUR INTERVIEW, ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF
JOHN MINA ANNOUNCED THAT ALL OF HIS PUBLIC-FACING DEPUTIES HAVE
NOW BEEN ISSUED BODY-WORN CAMERAS.
>> THE SHERIFF SAYS THAT THINGS HAVE REALLY CHANGED AS THERE ARE
MORE CALLS FOR POLICE TRANSPARENCY AND HE SAYS THIS
WILL PROTECT BOTH THE PUBLIC AND HIS DEPUTIES.
>>> BACK IN COLORADO, THE DEATH OF ELIJAH McCLAIN PROMPTED STATE
REPRESENTATIVE LESLIE HERROD TO MANDATE A STRICT UNIFORM BODY
CAM POLICY FOR EVERY OFFICER IN THE STATE.
DID YOU GET ANY PUSHBACK FROM POLICE DEPARTMENTS?
>> ABSOLUTELY. BUT WE HAD SUPPORT FROM FOLKS
AROUND THESE ISSUES.
>> SAY HIS NAME.
>> ELIJAH McCLAIN.
>> SAY HIS NAME.
>> ELIJAH McCLAIN.
>> IN JUNE 2020, THE COLORADO STATE LEGISLATURE PASSED
REPRESENTATIVE HERROD'S BILL MAKING COLORADO THE FIRST TO
HAVE A STATEWIDE MANDATE ON THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS.
>> IT'S LATE BUT HALLELUJAH BECAUSE IT'S HISTORY.
THIS IS HISTORY IN THE MAKING RIGHT HERE.
>> FIVE OTHER STATES ENACTED SIMILAR LEGISLATION BUT CARVE
OUT LOOPHOLES FOR POLICY DECISIONS AND BUDGETARY
CONSIDERATION.
>> WE NEED TO PASS ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, TOO, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE THIS PATCHWORK OF LAWS
ACROSS DIFFERENT STATES. DIFFERENT AGENCIES DOING IT
DIFFERENTLY JUST QUITE FRANKLY DOESN'T WORK.
>> AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, HOUSE DEMOCRATS PASSED THEIR OWN
POLICE REFORM BILL IN MARCH, INCLUDING BODY CAM PROVISIONS
FOR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
>> THE GEORGE FLOYD JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT FUNDAMENTALLY
TRANSFORMS THE CULTURE OF POLICING WITH STRONG,
UNPRECEDENTED REFORM.
>> WHILE THE BILL WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR BODY CAM PROGRAMS,
ILL STILL DOESN'T REGULATE THEIR USE.
LEAVING IN PLACE THE INEFFECTIVE ARRAY OF RULES, REGULATING BODY
CAMERAS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.