How to Request Bodycam Footage in Ohio

A practical, jurisdiction-specific walkthrough for filing a public-records request for police body-worn camera video in Ohio (OH). This guide is informational and not legal advice.

Governing law

Ohio Public Records Act (R.C. § 149.43)

Who to send your request to

Records custodian. If the incident involved multiple agencies (city PD plus state troopers plus sheriff), file parallel requests with each.

What to include in the request

The exact date, approximate time window, and location of the incident.
The case, incident, or CAD number if you have it.
Names or badge numbers of involved officers if known.
A clear statement invoking the state's public-records statute.
Your preferred delivery format (electronic file, DVD, thumb drive).
A fee ceiling — e.g. "please contact me before incurring charges above $25."

Fees

Actual cost of the medium

Response timeline

'Reasonable time'; Court of Claims often expects days, not weeks

If your request is denied

Court of Claims (expedited) or common pleas mandamus. Ask for the specific statutory exemption cited; boilerplate "ongoing investigation" denials are frequently reversed on appeal.