Oklahoma City police ordered to stop body camera use

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma City Police Department and union officials are responding the day after an arbitrator ordered the department to immediately suspend its use of body cameras, a program both sides say they support.

Police Chief Bill Citty said Wednesday that the department disagrees with an arbitrator’s ruling that it violated the collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police by implementing a policy for officer use of body cameras without completing negotiations with the FOP. Citty said the department will to continue negotiations and arrive at a compromise that will put officer body cameras back on the streets.

FOP Lodge 123 president John George said Wednesday that the program was suspended because the department implemented the policy before resolving a disagreement over supervisor access to body camera footage.