An Arkansas lawmaker recently introduced a bill in the State House that would prevent the release of video footage showing an officer die in the line of duty.
Rep. Jimmy Gazaway is a former deputy prosecutor who used the dashcam video that showed the April 12, 2011 fatal shooting of Trumann Police Officer Jonathan Schmidt to help put his killer on death row, according to The Associated Press.
Andrea Schmidt, the fallen officer's widow, says that the legislation would help spare other families the same pain. It's been almost six years since his death and the video still circulates on the internet and at times ends up in her Facebook feed.
"It's not just a cop getting killed. This is a human being. This is my husband. This is a father," she said.
The officer's father, Donald Schmidt, echoed Andrea's sentiments: "It's so horrifying to see it happen. I wish to God I had never watched it."
Gazaway said continued interest in footage of an officer's death is "something that just violates our sensibilities."
Under the bill -- which passed the House on a 94-0 vote Monday -- video showing a law enforcement officer's death would be released only if a court decides the public interest outweighs the need to keep it private.
