Mayor Taylor plans some uncomfortable TV viewing today, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
The Mayor says, contrary to 'rumors' which have been spread on social media, the body camera on being worn by an officer who is accused of punching a 14 year old girl in the face while he was attempted to break up a rowdy party on the northeast side earlier this month was working at the time, and she plans to watch the video to determine what the next step in the case should be.
Blurry cell phone camera video of the incident has spread on the Internet and has prompted calls for an investigation by City officials.
"Due to the age of the young lady, the City cannot release the video to the public, but it can be relased to the family, and the Chief has already contacted the family's attorney to make arrangements for that," the Mayor said in a statement.
The Mayor said the next step will be for the Complaint and Administrative Review Board, which is made up of seven officers and seven community members, and which is set up under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City and the San Antonio Police Officers Association, will determine whether policy was violated, and what, if any, punishment is warranted.
"I created a council on police-community relation to make certain that we increase dialogue between the police and the community," Taylor said. "It has proven successful thus far and we will continue that effort. Any time there is violence toward our community or our police officers, I want the strictest review possible."
The Mayor said this is also why the City invested heavily in body cameras for officers.