The Miami Herald: Bill to exempt depictions of deaths from public records laws on the move
BY JANET ZINK
Tampa police officers were in Tallahassee on Wednesday to voice their support for a bill that would exempt photographs, video and audio recordings of murders from public records laws. Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Riverview said she was inspired to sponsor the bill after attending the funerals of Tampa police officers Jeffrey Kocab and David Curtis last year.
“I went to the funeral of the two officers, and the three children were my main motivation,” she said.
Reporters viewed videos captured on their cruiser dashboard camera last month after local media outlets sued for their release. Under Burgin’s bill, such recordings or photographs would only be available to immediate family members unless a court determines otherwise. In such a case, the court would have to notify family members of the decision.