Santa Clara County leaders promised full transparency when they approved the deployment of Tasers in the jails. Now sheriff’s deputies are using them — and county leaders don’t want the public to see the videos.
The county has repeatedly denied California Public Records Act requests by civil rights advocates seeking the body-worn camera footage of deputies firing their newly-approved Tasers at incarcerated people. In letters responding to advocates’ requests, county lawyers have argued the footage is exempt because it’s considered a record of investigation and part of an ongoing case file. And while the discharge of a firearm is considered exempt from this loophole, county lawyers said they don’t consider a Taser a “firearm.”
The sheriff’s independent oversight office has already reviewed the footage. Based on the video of nine Taser discharges over a six month period, it concluded the weapon effectively avoided further deputy use of force, and deputies followed department policy…