Model Policy - AELE

1 BODY-WORN CAMERAS Model Policy Effective Date Number April 2014. Subject Body-Worn Cameras Reference Special Instructions Distribution Reevaluation Date No. Pages 3. I. PURPOSE 3. The BWC may also be useful in documenting This Policy is intended to provide officers with crime and accident scenes or other events that instructions on when and how to use body-worn include the confiscation and documentation of cameras (BWCs) so that officers may reliably record evidence or contraband. their contacts with the public in accordance with the B.

2 When and How to Use the BWC. 1. Officers shall activate the BWC to record all contacts with citizens in the performance of II. Policy official duties. It is the Policy of this department that officers shall 2. Whenever possible, officers should inform activate the BWC when such use is appropriate to the individuals that they are being recorded. In proper performance of his or her official duties, where locations where individuals have a reasonable the recordings are consistent with this Policy and law.

3 Expectation of privacy, such as a residence, This Policy does not govern the use of surreptitious they may decline to be recorded unless the recording devices used in undercover operations. recording is being made in pursuant to an arrest or search of the residence or the individ- III. PROCEDURES uals. The BWC shall remain activated until the A. Administration event is completed in order to ensure the integ- This agency has adopted the use of the BWC rity of the recording unless the contact moves to accomplish several objectives.

4 The primary into an area restricted by this Policy (see items objectives are as follows: ). 1. BWCs allow for accurate documentation of 3. If an officer fails to activate the BWC, fails police-public contacts, arrests, and critical inci- to record the entire contact, or interrupts the dents. They also serve to enhance the accuracy recording, the officer shall document why a of officer reports and testimony in court. recording was not made, was interrupted, or 2. Audio and video recordings also enhance this was terminated.

5 Agency's ability to review probable cause for 4. Civilians shall not be allowed to review the arrest, officer and suspect interaction, and recordings at the scene. evidence for investigative and prosecutorial C. Procedures for BWC Use purposes and to provide additional information 1. BWC equipment is issued primarily to uni- for officer evaluation and training. formed personnel as authorized by this agency. Officers who are assigned BWC equipment must use the equipment unless otherwise au- 1. Some states have eavesdropping statutes that require two-party con- thorized by supervisory personnel.

6 Sent prior to audio recording. Consult your legal advisor for state and local laws that affect your agency 1. 2. Police personnel shall use only BWCs issued D. Restrictions on Using the BWC. by this department. The BWC equipment and BWCs shall be used only in conjunction with all data, images, video, and metadata captured, official law enforcement duties. The BWC shall recorded, or otherwise produced by the equip- not generally be used to record: ment is the sole property of the agency. 1. Communications with other police personnel 3.

7 Police personnel who are assigned BWCs must without the permission of the chief executive complete an agency approved and/or provided officer (CEO);. training program to ensure proper use and op- 2. Encounters with undercover officers or confi- erations. Additional training may be required dential informants;. at periodic intervals to ensure the continued 3. When on break or otherwise engaged in per- effective use and operation of the equipment, sonal activities; or proper calibration and performance, and to in- 4.

8 In any location where individuals have a corporate changes, updates, or other revisions reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a in Policy and equipment. restroom or locker room. 4. BWC equipment is the responsibility of E. Storage individual officers and will be used with 1. All files2 shall be securely downloaded period- reasonable care to ensure proper functioning. ically and no later than the end of each shift. Equipment malfunctions shall be brought to Each file shall contain information related to the attention of the officer's supervisor as soon the date, BWC identifier, and assigned officer.

9 As possible so that a replacement unit may be 2. All images and sounds recorded by the BWC. procured. are the exclusive property of this department. 5. Officers shall inspect and test the BWC prior Accessing, copying, or releasing files for non- to each shift in order to verify proper func- law enforcement purposes is strictly prohibit- tioning and shall notify their supervisor of any ed. problems. 3. All access to BWC data (images, sounds, and 6. Officers shall not edit, alter, erase, duplicate, metadata) must be specifically authorized by copy, share, or otherwise distribute in any the CEO or his or her designee, and all access manner BWC recordings without prior written is to be audited to ensure that only authorized authorization and approval of the chief execu- users are accessing the data for legitimate and tive officer (CEO) or his or her designee.

10 Authorized purposes. 7. Officers are encouraged to inform their super- 4. Files should be securely stored in accordance visor of any recordings that may be of value with state records retention laws and no longer for training purposes. than useful for purposes of training or for use 8. If an officer is suspected of wrongdoing or in- in an investigation or prosecution. In capital volved in an officer-involved shooting or other punishment prosecutions, recordings shall be serious use of force, the department reserves kept until the offender is no longer under con- the right to limit or restrict an officer from trol of a criminal justice agency.