SARATOGA SPRINGS

POLICE DEPARTMENT
5 LAKE AVENUE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866-2298
518-584-1800
Fax 518-584-1744

GREGORY J. VEITCH
Chief of Police

Friday, October 24, 2014

Police to Release Video
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Today the Saratoga Springs Police Department released the security camera video of the initial
incident that led to the foot pursuit of Darryl Mount, Jr on August 31, 2013. A statement from Chief of
Police Greg Veitch was released with the video.
Chief Veitch stated, Today I am releasing the security camera video of the initial incident of
August 31, 2013 that led to the foot pursuit of Darryl Mount Jr. I do so based on the advice of legal
counsel.
I believe that it is important to remember that the release of any video depicting victims,
witnesses and offenders involve fellow human beings. In the age of social media, with videos and
images that go viral, it sometimes seems that as a society we have forgotten that everyone deserves to
have their dignity and privacy respected.
Images, videos and police reports often contain very embarrassing information about those
involved. Once this information is released it cannot be taken back and it is frequently difficult for
public officials to balance the need to be transparent and to inform the public with what can be a
potentially difficult psychological burden for a victim.
In domestic violence cases we know that an important obstacle for victims of abuse is the shame
and embarrassment they often feel about their situation. Often victims of crime do not want their family,
friends, co-workers or total strangers to know they have been the victim of a crime. This is
acknowledged by experts in the field as a barrier to abused victims seeking the assistance they may
need. This embarrassment can only be magnified when police release details or facts of their abuse to be
broadcast or posted to social media sites for anyone to view and comment on.
All victims should expect the police to treat them with respect and to honor their privacy and
dignity. One issue that all victims of crime have to deal with is a sense of having a lack of control over
their situation. This is a particularly difficult issue in abusive relationships and something that the public
release of images, videos and reports detailing their victimization is sure not to help.

SARATOGA SPRINGS

POLICE DEPARTMENT
5 LAKE AVENUE
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866-2298
518-584-1800
Fax 518-584-1744

GREGORY J. VEITCH
Chief of Police

Of course there should be transparency in public affairs. My hope is that we all remember that
just because something is a public record does not mean that those involved are nameless, faceless
strangers, videos and images of whom are to be downloaded, commented on and shared to satisfy our
own personal curiosity. We should endeavor to respect those whose circumstances have become a
matter of public record by keeping in mind their right to be treated with dignity and to have their privacy
protected.

Gregory J. Veitch
Chief of Police
Saratoga Springs Police Department