CPD Hopes to Stay Transparent by Releasing Body Camera Video

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) — Columbus Police wanted to be proactive before the rumors grew. That’s why they let the media view police body camera footage Friday.

“We’re not talking about an officer didn’t say hello to someone, we’re not talking about an officer failed to waive to someone,” says Public Information Officer Joe Dillon.

Dillon says when serious allegations came up against the department, they knew they had to take action.

“There was video already posted from somebody’s camera phone of their side of the story.”

That’s why CPD decided to tell their side through the officers body camera footage.

They’ve never responded solely to a social media post before ,but after the city took some heat for not having footage of the Ricky Ball shooting, they are being more transparent.

“The department is going to be more sensitive to charges, to accusations then they would in the past,” says Dillon.

Dillon says it’s also about keeping up with the times.

“That’s the world we are living in now, you know something can happen this morning and it’s posted on the internet without an investigation. Without knowing the facts.”