Chronicle Editorial

Body camera bill needs work
 
     A new bill introduced last week in the Iowa Legislature has given new life to the ongoing debate over police body cameras. All law enforcement officers would be required to wear the devices on patrol if it gets approved, but certain ambiguities could dog the proposal as this year's General Assembly wears on.
     Body cameras have been a hot topic since the late-summer debacle in Ferguson, Mo. Many advocates feel the devices would give a better perspective of daily interactions between police officers and the general public, in turn creating a greater layer of transparency and protection if questions arise after an arrest. This goes both ways. Body cameras would help protect citizens if law enforcement is out of line while simultaneously shielding officers against unwarranted accusations. In a perfect world, everybody's happy.
     However, certain hurdles exist. Very few, if any, departments have existing policy for body cameras. This leaves many questions unanswered, like which recordings are public record and how long the footage should be stored. Different ideas in the Legislature have addressed these uncertainties, but nothing has been set in stone. It's clear lawmakers need to tackle this discrepancy and develop a statewide policy for departments to follow if body cameras are mandated. Failing to do so would only create more problems in the future.
     Another key issue highlighting the body camera debate is funding. The current proposal suggests that departments pay for the devices with state and federal grants; however, that seems like a rather shortsighted approach. The existence of these grants has been drawn into question, and forcing cash-strapped departments to pay for body cameras on their own would be ill advised. These devices aren't cheap, but neither is the cost to store footage. The Legislature should set aside money to cover at least 75 percent of the body cameras and necessary storage capabilities. Smaller rural agencies are already hindered by financial constraints, and adding to that burden could come at a detriment to public safety.
     The bill in the Iowa Legislature is well intentioned, but it needs work. Body cameras will only continue gaining popularity as more and more departments add them to their arsenal voluntarily. It's clear these devices have the potential to protect both officers and citizens, but the proper policies and funding need to be established before they become a mandated necessity for everyday police work in Iowa.
 
Momentum for medicinal marijuana?
 
     Public support for medicinal marijuana in Iowa grew significantly over the past year, but don't expect drastic changes to existing policy anytime soon.
     A recent poll conducted by the Des Moines Register indicated that 70 percent of Iowans favored legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes in the state. That number was up 11 points from 2014 and comes on the heels of legislation that legalized cannabis oil for a narrowed set of diseases last year. It appears Iowans are warming to the idea of medicinal marijuana, and our lawmakers should take note.
     However, this doesn't mean the state should go all-in on the idea just yet. The current cannabis oil law created a foundation, and many believe it could use some revision to create a better policy. This seems like the most logical step moving forward and the most probable one in the 2015. Many lawmakers hold reservations about the drug, and thoroughly investigating it before expanding medical use is vital.
     Twenty-three other states have medicinal marijuana laws on the books. That number is likely to grow in the near future and Iowa might be one of them some day. However, we’re taking baby steps right now, which is the right tactic as the state plans ahead.