Transparency was recently featured on National Public Radio.
KHOU 11 Investigative Reporter Jeremy Rogalski discussed the Transparency team’s findings into Houston’s $8 million police body-camera program on the Texas Standard. The daily radio show discusses important topics in Texas on Houston Public Media.
You can listen to the full interview below or by tapping here.
The four-month investigation revealed that the tool touted as the blueprint to transparency and accountability by police and city leaders is falling short of its promise. The investigation found that:
- HPD promised to conduct monthly audits of videos to check that officers are recording when it counts. We found that one random audit was conducted in six months.
- The Harris County District Attorney’s Office is missing videos in more than 700 cases. Houston’s interim police chief did not dispute this, but said they are investigating the issue.
- HPD delivered videos in 132 cases to the DA for use in court after the cases were already closed.
- Although the vendor that provides HPD’s cameras offers a safety net that ensures that footage will not be missed (free of charge), HPD chose not to activate that function.
If you feel compelled to drive change to HPD’s body-camera program, tap here.