South Dakota’s Secretive Police Video Policies Shield Law Enforcement from Accountability

In an America that values freedom, transparency, and rule of law, how can we accept a system where police departments use taxpayer-funded equipment yet keep critical videos locked away from public view? South Dakota stands out as a glaring example of this problem, where state statutes effectively grant law enforcement near-total discretion to hide records—including body and dashcam footage—that should belong to the people. How Can Justice Prevail When Evidence Is Hidden? The case of Troy Rokusek lays bare the consequences of South Dakota’s secretive approach. After a brutal arrest in 2015 involving Trooper Cody Jansen—later named 2017 Trooper of...