Seattle Police Department launches body cam YouTube channel

The Seattle Police Department’s body camera videos could soon be going viral.

The department launched a YouTube channel showcasing the work of community partners who have helped to increase transparency and accountability. “Civil hackers” have released early versions of tools that will help the department automatically redact police videos, while meeting the state’s privacy laws.

The first set of videos on the YouTube channel, SPD BodyWornVideo, focuses on the Martin Luther King Jr. protest.

Tim Clemans, part of the department’s volunteer force of hackers, developed the first tool being tested. It blurs video to protect privacy and was used to redact images and eliminate sound from bodycam video taken during the Martin Luther King Jr. Day demonstrations.

Using Clemans’ process, it only took half a day to redact more than four hours of footage for posting online. The old method would have required days of work.

Creation of the new YouTube channel comes the same week the Seattle City Council unanimously approved a resolution providing a framework for dealing with technologies that impact privacy. The department is co-sponsor of the Citywide Privacy Initiative, along with the Department of Information Technology.

Mike Wagers, the department’s Chief Operating Officer, said the new YouTube channel, and ongoing development of video redaction tools, accomplishes several goals.

“Mayor Murray and Chief O’Toole have made enhancing public trust a cornerstone of police reforms in Seattle. This is certainly one important component. It also underscores our commitment to privacy,” Wagers said. “And, it demonstrates that we are committed to working with local tech talent to transform the Seattle Police Department into a national leader when it comes to its use of technology.”