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Fremont Police Release Body Cam Videos Of 6 Officer-Involved Shootings

FREMONT (CBS SF) -- Citing a new state laws requiring greater transparency, Fremont police Wednesday released investigative reports and body cam and other videos of six officer-involved shootings from January 2015-April 2018.

Fremont police said since SB 1421 and AB 748 went into effect on January 1, they have received more than 20 requests for public records related to officer-involved shootings and incidents involving great bodily injury.

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The six cases include one from June 1, 2016 in which a Fremont police officer was shot in the head and critically injured and a second police officer was also shot and injured. Both officers have recovered, while the shooter - a Norteño gang member - died of a self-inflicted gunshot during a police standoff.

Video of the most recent case involving the fatal shooting of a man who opened fire on a Fremont police officer has already been released.

Over the last four months, investigators have been preparing video summaries and redacting numerous documents in response to these requests.

On Wednesday, the department uploaded officer-involved shooting investigative summaries and videos for six past incidents that are not currently pending civil or criminal litigation.

They are:

  • January 16, 2015 incident on Lake Arrowhead
  • July 20, 2015 incident on Baffin Ave.
  • June 1, 2016 incident in Irvington
  • April 9, 2017 incident on Fremont Blvd. at Decoto Rd.
  • May 29, 2017 incident on Mowry Ave.
  • April 5, 2018 incident on Fremont Blvd. at Nicolet

The investigative summary documents and links to the videos can be found here.

Despite legal challenges mounted by various departments and police unions, Fremont Police moved forward and conducted months of research and devoted thousands of staff hours to develop a "Transparency Portal." The portal is a clearinghouse of information and videos, organized by subject and in chronological order. To see the portal, click here.

"And now the public can actually see what we've been saying all along. That Fremont PD is extremely transparent. We're always going to be honest, And we're not going to hide anything. So today is that day. That's why we decided, 'Let's release everything,'" said Fremont Police Captain Fred Bobbitt.

Fremont has also adopted a new policy of timely release of information during critical incidents, including event summaries within several hours, release of names of suspects and officers within 72 hours, and release of body, dash, or surveillance camera footage within seven days.

However, the district attorney's office could challenge the release of video if prosecutors deem that the release could jeopardize the case.

"It's our job to build relationships and have that partnership (with the public). And to be honest with you, this is a next step, this is taking it a step further to really be vulnerable in a sense," said Bobbitt.

KPIX 5 law enforcement analyst and former Oakland Police Chief Howard Jordan, says the bulk release of video by Fremont Police puts added pressure on other departments that have not yet complied with the new law.

(Disclosure: Jordan is an expert witness for Fremont Police in one of the recent shootings.)

"They should be very cognizant of the trend in law-enforcement. Most departments are complying. They should look at the message they are sending to the public by not complying with the law," said Jordan.

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