State senator hopes to make body cameras part of the job for all game officers

Jessica Delfino, The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
·2 min read

A proposed law equips deputy wildlife law enforcement officers with recording equipment to help thwart would-be woodland criminals.

Senate bill 1194 would include body cameras for certain officers in both the state Fish & Boat Commission and the Game Commission.

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp., is behind the push. Ten years ago, she helped to pass legislation that became Act 202, allowing trained, full-time officers of both agencies to wear body cameras.

The state Game Commission is supportive of the updated legislation, said communications director, Travis Lau.

“There are 175 statewide deputy wardens,” Lau said. “They are employed part-time as opposed to full-time, but it’s not uncommon and maybe typical for deputies to do the same kind of work.”

The equipment, which is about “the size of a Walkman,” gives the public more transparency to the events that occur while a game warden is working.

“Body cameras have the ability to, in an unbiased manner, fully document encounters,” Lau explained. “A lot of people wardens encounter in the field are armed. It can show us how the encounters went, it can be used in court. … People also know they are on camera, so it can diffuse what could be an otherwise hostile situation.”

Mark Kropa, 52, a game warden supervisor at the regional office in Luzerne County working with the state Game Commission for 17 years, doesn’t see many downsides to the legislation.

“The full-time officers already have them, and I think they work out great," Kropa said. "It protects the officer, it protects the citizens, it helps us in evidence collection … it’s a great idea."

He recalled being outfitted with the technology when the state began using body cameras a decade ago.

“Me, personally, I had no issues with it,” Kropa said, “other than it’s a new piece of equipment and having it strapped to your chest and having to turn it on when you need to.”

He said the camera doesn’t turn on automatically, and needs to be turned on and off, which he does when he gets out of his vehicle to interact with someone.

“It’s more for documentation, if there are any false accusations against me, it’ll be on camera, or if you forgot where you found that shell casing, it’s all right there,” Kropa added.

“Body worn cameras are an invaluable tool for modern law enforcement,” said Baker in the bill memo. “They provide an accurate and unbiased account of officer engagement, protecting the integrity of citizens and officers alike.”