Overview
- City councilors held a hearing to press for a written release policy after the Roxbury shooting, and the police department’s lawyer said state law blocks disclosure during an active prosecution.
- Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden and the Boston Police Department have refused to share the body‑camera footage, and a TV station’s records request was denied and appealed to the state.
- The March 11 shooting of Stephenson King on Linwood Street led to a manslaughter charge for Officer Nicholas O’Malley, with prosecutors citing camera footage and witnesses that they say contradict his account.
- Councilors Miniard Culpepper and Brian Worrell urged a timeline for public release and faster access for overseers, while the city watchdog OPAT said it will wait to review the case until after the prosecution ends.
- Past practice has varied, as clergy viewed video in a 2015 case with no charges, and the uneven approach is driving calls for state or local rules that set clear standards for when police videos are released.