Mayor Turner and Chief Acevedo address recent officer-involved shootings in Houston
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Mayor Sylvester Turner and Houston Police Department Chief Art Acevedo addressed the public on Saturday afternoon after eight officer-involved shootings were reported in the city just in the month of May.
A group of community activists called on Houston police to release the body camera video from the recent officer-involved shootings.
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Community members have said Acevedo promised transparency after the shootings.
"We pay for those body cams," said Shelby Stewart, a civil rights activist. "We pay for those vehicles and we pay for Chief Acevedo's salary. What's on those cameras deserves to be seen by the public. That should be our right."
ABC13 reporter Ted Oberg talked with Acevedo last week, asking him, "Is it time to show Houstonians more of how you come to your conclusions (on officer-involved shootings)?"
"Absolutely," the chief replied. "I've talked to the DA about that and we're going to come up with a plan here because I think transparency breeds trust."
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In the ABC13 town hall Thursday night, Acevedo insisted the release of body camera video from any of the 10 recent HPD officer-involved shootings that occurred in April and May would be premature without a national policy.
"We have to come up with a national policy. One law, 50 states," Acevedo explained suggesting one policy in Houston conflicting with another in Minneapolis could hurt transparency nationwide.
On Saturday, Acevedo added the wishes of family members who want video of their loved ones dying kept private. If on the other hand families want it released, Mayor Turner said he would consider that.
WATCH: ABC13 hosts 'Police & Our Communities of Color' town hall
