Caught on camera Assistant AGs arrest raises questions about body camera policy

Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General Devon Hogan Flanagan was arrested for trespassing after requesting a Newport police officer to turn off his body camera. Flanagan incorrectly asserted that police policy mandated the officer to comply with her request. The Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association, led by Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas F. Oates III, clarified that officers can only deactivate body cameras at the request of victims or witnesses, not suspects. Newport's body camera policy prohibits recording when a victim or witness requests it in a non-confrontational context.

The incident highlights ongoing discussions about police accountability and body camera protocols in the state. Media coverage of Flanagan's arrest has sparked national interest in the issue. At one point during the encounter, Flanagan claimed, "I'm an AG," as she was being handcuffed. The exchange raises critical questions about the legal and ethical implications surrounding body camera usage in law enforcement.