COLUMBUS, Ohio — Former Columbus police officer Spencer Badger started posting body camera footage online about five years ago.

What You Need To Know

  • Former Columbus police officer Spencer Badger was fired for mishandling police body worn camera footage

  • Public Safety Director Kate Pishotti terminated him because he knowingly violated division policy on multiple occasions

  • On Badger's YouTube page, he says he posts Columbus police body camera footage to highlight the good work the police are doing and to be transparent

A video message on his YouTube page says his goal was to showcase police officers in a good light. He made records requests to use videos over the years, but there were recent instances when he didn’t, and the department fired him for using the body cam footage on his personal device.

“There was positive things. There was also some things on there that was putting the city in a negative spotlight, some things that was embarrassing the inspector general, embarrassing the mayor. Some things were embarrassing. The chief of police,” said Fraternal Order of Police Lodge Nine President Brian Steel. 

Steel says former Badger believes in complete transparency. It’s why he started posting.

“I assume there are some individuals in the city did not like what he was saying, not on the phone, his body camera platform on the thoughts of a police officer platform. And this was almost like a, we got it, and now we're going to terminate it,” said Steel. 

Pishotti upheld Chief Elaine Bryant’s recommendation to terminate officer badger after a hearing.

“The findings of this investigation are unambiguous. Officer Badger admits to violating division policy on multiple occasions. He admits to improperly and repeatedly downloading law enforcement materials to a personal device,” said Steel.  

During the hearing, Pishotti said Badger downloaded division body worn camera video to a personally owned device multiple times. He also disseminated division body worn camera video footage without a public records request. Although Badger has admitted to violating policy, Steel believes firing him was too harsh of a punishment. 

“Violate a policy, should be held accountable. But therefore, we believe this was completely excessive and that's why we are defending it,” said Steel. 

Moving forward, the Columbus Police Department is investigating his case, and the union is appealing. Badger said on his YouTube page he expects to be reinstated within nine to12 months. Spectrum News 1 tried reaching out to him for an interview but haven't heard back.