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Titusville, FL – The handling of police body-worn camera footage in officer-involved shootings is once again at the center of public debate and Titusville has found itself on the defensive. While the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) has set a model of transparency with its clear 30-day bodycam release policy, the Titusville Police Department (TPD) has refused to release footage from a fatal February 2025 police shooting nearly four months after the incident — despite mounting public pressure, protests, and even a unanimous City Council vote urging its release.

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This sharp contrast between the two agencies’ approaches is fueling community outrage, raising serious questions about police accountability, and spotlighting the consequences of discretionary secrecy.

The Incident: The Shooting of Tri-Marea Charles

On February 7, 2025, TPD officers responded to reports of a “suspicious incident” at 490 South Robbins Avenue, reportedly tied to a house party. According to TPD Chief John Lau, officers encountered 25-year-old Tri-Marea Charles, who allegedly dropped a firearm from his waistband, then reached for it, prompting officers to fire. Charles was transported to Parrish Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) completed its independent investigation and forwarded its findings to the State Attorney’s Office on May 17, 2025, which will determine whether the officers’ use of force was legally justified.

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Orange County’s Transparency Model

While TPD continues to delay, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office follows a standing policy that body-worn camera footage from officer-involved shootings and in-custody deaths is released publicly within 30 days of the incident — once all initial interviews are complete.

As stated directly by OCSO:

“It is our policy to release body-worn camera video of critical incidents. We believe it is important for our community to see these videos so they can have a better understanding of what occurred.”

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OCSO handles an average of 77 public records requests daily through a streamlined system covering everything from 911 calls to bodycam footage. In multiple high-profile cases, including one involving Sheriff John Mina’s own family, footage has been released promptly — without waiting for lengthy State Attorney reviews.

Yesterday, OCSO released bodycam video from a May 7, 2025 officer involved shooting.

The result: public confidence is largely preserved, speculation is minimized, and transparency remains a cornerstone of agency policy.

Chief John Lau’s Public Justification

On April 21, 2025, Chief Lau released a public video statement on X (formerly Twitter), attempting to explain and justify the department’s decision to withhold the footage. Standing in his office, framed by bookshelves and awards, Lau emphasized:

“Our process is designed to protect the integrity of the investigation and ensure that justice is served. Releasing the footage prematurely could compromise the State Attorney’s ability to make an unbiased decision.”

Lau stressed that the FDLE’s process is extensive, involving interviews, evidence collection, and analysis that, according to him, make it inappropriate to release footage before the State Attorney finishes their review.

“This is not about withholding information from the public; it’s about doing what’s right for the process and for justice,” Lau added.

However, critics have pointed out that Lau offered no timeline for when the State Attorney’s review will conclude, and made no mention of any interim steps such as allowing the family to view the footage privately under a confidentiality agreement that could provide some degree of transparency without compromising the investigation.

Growing Community Outrage

Chief Lau’s explanation has done little to quell mounting anger.

Since February, Titusville residents have held multiple protests, including one outside the police department just days after the shooting. Frustrated residents also disrupted City Council meetings and gathered in large numbers at NAACP forums demanding answers.

Tri-Marea’s mother, Samantha Charles, has been particularly vocal:

“I’m just begging you all, just let me see the footage. Everybody else shows the footage the next day or the next week, and here I am three months and no footage,” she pleaded to City Council on May 13.

In response, the City Council unanimously voted to formally request that Chief Lau allow Charles to view the footage privately with a confidentiality agreement — a compromise that still would have protected the ongoing investigation. Chief Lau declined.

Despite his repeated public statements about transparency, his decision to override the council’s request — which was entirely within his discretionary authority — has further damaged trust.

Is Lau’s Refusal Legal Or Simply Discretionary?

Florida law (F.S. 943.1718) does allow police agencies to withhold footage if it could jeopardize an active investigation. But legal experts and critics argue that this exemption is discretionary — not mandatory — and that partial release to family members under a confidentiality agreement could be done lawfully.

As the Orlando Sentinel editorialized earlier this year, “Lau’s emphasis on ‘process’ over openness is not legally required — it’s a choice.”

This places Titusville’s policy in direct contrast with OCSO and with many jurisdictions across the country, including Colorado and New Jersey, which have implemented statewide mandates requiring timely release of police shooting footage.

The Cost of Delayed Transparency

The longer TPD delays, the deeper the wounds grow. Public speculation, anti-police memes, petitions, and social media campaigns have continued to build momentum. On Change.org, thousands have signed a petition titled Justice for Tri-Marea Charles: Release the Body Camera Footage Now.

For many residents, this delay is not simply about a legal technicality — it’s about eroded trust and shattered confidence in the department’s commitment to accountability.

“We don’t believe you, and we don’t trust you,” Charles’ cousin, Jermaine McCrary, said during one protest.

A Tale of Two Policies

Florida currently lacks a statewide standard for bodycam footage release in critical incidents, leaving individual departments like TPD wide discretion. OCSO’s approach demonstrates that transparency and investigative integrity can coexist, while TPD’s protracted secrecy fuels accusations of protecting the department rather than serving public interest.

The contrast between the two agencies is not just a policy debae, it’s an ongoing fight for accountability and public confidence.

As Florida continues to grapple with the balance between due process and public transparency, the family of Tri-Marea Charles and the Titusville community continue to wait.

Stay with The Space Coast Rocket for continuing coverage as this story develops.

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