NYPD Fails to Meet Transparency Deadline in Body Camera Footage Release
A recent audit by the Comptroller's office has found that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has consistently failed to meet deadlines for releasing police body-worn camera footage, often leading to lengthy delays and appeals from requesters. The audit covered 5,427 requests submitted between 2020 and 2024, with only a small percentage of cases meeting the standard 25-business-day timeline for response.
In many instances, the NYPD didn't turn over requested footage until an appeal was filed, after which they turned it over in 97% of cases. This lack of transparency undermines the intended purpose of body-worn cameras, according to Comptroller Brad Lander, who expressed concerns that the cameras are not functioning as a tool for gathering evidence and strengthening accountability.
The audit also found that the department failed to properly review and activate its own camera footage in over 18% of cases. Officers would either turn on their cameras too late or stop recording too early during encounters, which can compromise the integrity of the footage. Furthermore, sergeants from precincts across the city were not consistently following procedures for reviewing and completing inspection worksheets, resulting in a lack of oversight and accountability.
In response to the audit's findings, the NYPD agreed to several recommendations aimed at improving transparency and oversight of body-worn camera footage, including increasing staffing at its Legal Bureau and investigating lower activation rates at certain precincts. However, the department pushed back against some of the audit's conclusions, citing methodological flaws in the review and arguing that 25 business days is not a standard timeline for responding to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.
The audit's findings highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability within the NYPD's body-worn camera program. As Comptroller Lander noted, "With proper oversight, body-worn cameras are a tool for gathering evidence, strengthening accountability, improving policing practices, and building trust." The city must ensure that its law enforcement agencies prioritize transparency and public oversight to maintain the integrity of these critical tools.
A recent audit by the Comptroller's office has found that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has consistently failed to meet deadlines for releasing police body-worn camera footage, often leading to lengthy delays and appeals from requesters. The audit covered 5,427 requests submitted between 2020 and 2024, with only a small percentage of cases meeting the standard 25-business-day timeline for response.
In many instances, the NYPD didn't turn over requested footage until an appeal was filed, after which they turned it over in 97% of cases. This lack of transparency undermines the intended purpose of body-worn cameras, according to Comptroller Brad Lander, who expressed concerns that the cameras are not functioning as a tool for gathering evidence and strengthening accountability.
The audit also found that the department failed to properly review and activate its own camera footage in over 18% of cases. Officers would either turn on their cameras too late or stop recording too early during encounters, which can compromise the integrity of the footage. Furthermore, sergeants from precincts across the city were not consistently following procedures for reviewing and completing inspection worksheets, resulting in a lack of oversight and accountability.
In response to the audit's findings, the NYPD agreed to several recommendations aimed at improving transparency and oversight of body-worn camera footage, including increasing staffing at its Legal Bureau and investigating lower activation rates at certain precincts. However, the department pushed back against some of the audit's conclusions, citing methodological flaws in the review and arguing that 25 business days is not a standard timeline for responding to Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.
The audit's findings highlight the need for greater transparency and accountability within the NYPD's body-worn camera program. As Comptroller Lander noted, "With proper oversight, body-worn cameras are a tool for gathering evidence, strengthening accountability, improving policing practices, and building trust." The city must ensure that its law enforcement agencies prioritize transparency and public oversight to maintain the integrity of these critical tools.
. I mean, what's the point of having cameras on cops if they're not gonna turn 'em over when we ask for 'em? It's like they think we're just gonna take their word for it or something 
. And now I'm hearing that even when we appeal, it takes 97% of cases for them to finally hand over the footage... that's just crazy 
. But we need to hold 'em accountable, you know? Body cam footage is a huge part of keeping police departments honest and transparent. Without it, we're just flying blind 
.
. But the fact that we still haven't gotten any real change... ugh 
. We deserve better than this 
.
NYPD's body cam debacle is getting outta hand! 
How can they not meet a simple deadline like 25 days? 
It's like, what are we even paying them for if not to be transparent? 
. Cops need to be held accountable for their actions 
, especially when it comes to body cam footage 
. We deserve to know what's really going on behind those cameras 
!
. I mean, who has time to wait 25 days for footage? It's already taken that long by the time you appeal them 
. And what's with all these cases where officers don't turn on their cameras in the first place? That's not how it's supposed to work 
. We need those cameras to hold cops accountable, but if they're not working properly, then we can't trust them at all 
. It's time for some real change, not just lip service 
.
NYPD's lack of transparency when it comes to releasing police body cam footage is super concerning 
. The fact that they didn't turn over footage until an appeal was filed in most cases is mind-boggling 
. The city needs to step up its oversight and make sure these agencies are held accountable for their actions 
. Transparency is key, period! 
. The city needs to prioritize transparency and public oversight in its body-worn camera program. It's the only way we'll see meaningful reform and an end to this lack of accountability. 
. We need to make sure these cameras are being used as intended - to hold officers accountable and improve policing practices 
. We need to keep pushing for transparency and accountability, even when it's hard 
.
and i had the craziest sushi experience - they have this one restaurant where the chef is literally a robot, it was so trippy 
and i started thinking about how cool it would be to see body-worn cameras used in a similar way, like having AI-powered tools to review footage automatically... just imagine if the NYPD had something like that, it could totally speed up those delays they have with releasing footage 
️
. It's gonna take some serious reform for the NYPD to actually start using their body-worn cameras as intended 
So, they should be able to turn over our stuff on time 
. But nope, they keep pushing it off and it's all messed up 
.
. They need to get their act together and start following the rules 
. Transparency is key, like Comptroller Lander said 
This is getting outta hand! I mean, what's the point of having body cam footage if it's just gonna be locked away for months? It's like they're trying to hide something 
. I think 25 business days is a pretty standard timeline for responding to FOIL requests, but whatever 
the nypd's lack of transparency is wild... they're supposed to be a symbol of justice but instead they're just making it harder for us to know what's really going down on the streets