Attorney General Chris Koster

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster penned a letter to lawmakers on Tuesday, adding his voice of support to calls in the legislature and from protestors to require police officers to wear body-worn cameras.

But, the Democrat – a likely 2016 candidate for governor – said any requirement should be done alongside changes to the state’s open records law that would limit the public’s access to the videos the cameras record.

“Missouri’s Sunshine Law provides news media and entertainment producers nearly unfettered access to videos from body-worn cameras. Adoption of body-worn cameras must not lead to a new era of voyeurism and entertainment television at the expense of Missourians’ privacy,” Koster wrote.

Koster’s input on the issue comes after an increased interest in the police cameras following incidents like the shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man, by a white police officer, as well as police killings in New York City and Cleveland.

About body-worn cameras, themselves, Koster said the “widespread adoption” of them could “offer clarity regarding law enforcement encounters with the public and enhance public safety.”

In the House, three bills have been filed that would require police officers to wear body cameras. Koster said he hopes lawmakers could move on the open-records component before they end their session in May.