SEPTA
Transit Police Department
Service, Integrity, and True Professionalism
Directive
620. Body Worn Camera Program

620.1

Body Worn Camera (BWC) equipment provides audio and video
recording of contacts with police officers. The purpose of the
BWC program is to give the Transit Police an additional tool to
serve its primary function of protecting the safety and civil
liberties of individuals. BWCs will be used to capture an event in
real time in order to assist in verifying whether an individual’s
Constitutional Rights are protected, document evidence seizures,
deter misconduct by police/public and serve as a useful training
and management tool.

POLICY:
620.2.1

620.3

Total Pages: 6

PURPOSE:
620.1.1

620.2

  1/1/2016  

All uniformed personnel will utilize BWC equipment to record
interactions while on duty regardless of whether the employee is
on straight time or overtime status.

PROCEDURES:
620.3.1

General Guidelines
(a)

A supervisor will assign the BWC and accessories to the
officers.

(b)

All supervisors will be responsible for ensuring that
personnel utilize their BWC during police contacts.

(c)

The assigned officer will inspect the BWC for any
physical damage. The officer will ensure the device is in
proper working order with the audio switch on at the
beginning of the shift. The officer will audibly record
his/her name, badge number, beat assignment and tour
of duty as the first recording.

(d)

Officers are responsible for the proper care of all
Department property and/or equipment assigned to
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 them. Officers will immediately report to their supervisor
any loss of, or damage to, any part of the BWC.

620.3.2

(e)

The unit should be affixed to the officer’s uniform in a
manner that provides the best unobstructed view of
incidents occurring in front of the officer.

(f)

Handset microphones should be placed on the uniform
in a manner that does not interfere with the BWC
recording of conversations between the officer and
members of the public.

(g)

Prior to going into service with a BWC, officers will
ensure that they are wearing an authorized uniform
which clearly identifies them as a SEPTA Transit Police
Officer, unless otherwise approved by the Chief of
Police.

(h)

The assigned officer will note on the first line of the
patrol log “BWC Equipped”.

(i)

The BWC recordings will
Departmental purposes only.

be

used

for

official

Equipment Operation
(a)

Personnel equipped with a BWC must activate the
record mode as soon as they can safely do so when
initiating (or earlier, if possible) the following events:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
10)
11)
12)

Assigned to a radio call
Notifying radio of response to a radio call
assigned to another unit
Observing another unit engaged in a contact
Observing criminal, disorderly, suspicious or
unsafe behavior
Any and all contacts other than simple greetings
or casual conversation
Protection of crime or accident scenes
Transportation of prisoners or citizens
Searches and frisks of persons, vehicles, public
structures, etc.
Statements made by suspects, victims and
witnesses
Miranda warnings
Interrogations of suspects
Any legitimate law enforcement purpose

2

 (b)

The only authorized BWC is the department issued
equipment.

(c)

Recordings shall be made in close proximity to the
individual’s oral communication.

(d)

Officers shall inform, as soon as reasonably practicable,
the individuals present that s/he is recording their
conversation by saying, “I am (Rank)(Last name) of the
Transit Police and this conversation is being recorded.”

(e)

All reports prepared by the officer documenting police
action recorded by a BWC will include the notation
“BWC”. BWC video does not take the place of normal
documentation.

(f)

The recording officer will advise any additional arriving
police/fire/EMS units that the incident is being recorded
with a BWC.

(g)

Supervisors will ensure that personnel download
recorded files using the established process at the end
of each tour of duty.

(h)

When a recording occurs of a critical incident (as
determined by a supervisor) or a Response to
Resistance (R2R), the officer will be directed to a data
transfer location to enable the uploading of video as
soon as possible after the incident.

(i)

All R2R recordings will be reviewed by Internal Affairs
within three days of the recorded incident.

620.3.3

Restrictions
(a)

Officers shall not make surreptitious recordings of
conversations with any person unless the restrictions
and guidelines of PA Title 18 Chapter 57 – Wiretapping
and Electronic Surveillance – have been met.

(b)

The following are examples of events that shall not be
recorded:
1)
2)
3)
4)

Lunch break
Report writing
Administrative functions
Discussions with police officers that are not
related to an ongoing incident
3

 5)
6)

Greeting people or personal conversations
Conversations with supervisors that are not
related to an active incident

(c)

Recordings shall not occur in places that possess a
higher expectation of privacy such as dressing rooms or
restrooms unless police contact is occurring inside those
locations.

(d)

Officers shall not intentionally erase, alter, reuse, modify
or tamper with BWC recordings.

(e)

Officers shall not interfere with the video or audio
function of the BWC.

(f)

Officers shall not change the settings or attempt to repair
the BWC. All changes and repairs will be conducted at
Police Headquarters.

(g)

When response to resistance occurs, the officer will
prepare the R2R report without reviewing the BWC
video. This is in compliance with existing procedures for
station and vehicle video.

(h)

The video images will not be exposed to random use of
facial and/or voice recognition capabilities. This may only
be done for specific criminal investigations.

620.3.4

Termination of Recording
(a)

Once the record function of the BWC is activated, the
officer will continue to record until either the subject
being recorded or the officer has disengaged and
communication between the two is no longer likely to
occur.

(b)

Officers are required by law to deactivate the BWC
recording function when entering a private residence.
Officers shall request from those present permission to
record inside private residences. The approval to do so
must be recorded.

(c)

Individuals being recorded in the public domain do not
possess the authority to demand that the BWC recording
function be deactivated.

4

 Video Storage, Retention and Release

620.3.5
(a)

Recorded images related to any incident which results in
arrest or issuance of citation/CVN will be retained.

(b)

Accessing, copying or releasing BWC recordings for
other than approved purposes is prohibited.

(c)

Viewing of video is to be documented and maintained by
the Commander of the Communications and Technology
Unit. Viewing of video should be done on a need to know
basis.

(d)

Public requests for viewing of video will be handled
using the existing Right to Know protocol.

(e)

All BWC video that is to be retained will be considered
as evidence and the property of the SEPTA Transit
Police Department.

(f)

Video will be stored in a secure manner at Transit Police
Headquarters for 90 days from the date of recording with
the exception of evidentiary, investigative, or training
material which will be held until ordered purged by the
Chief of Police.

(g)

By use of email, an officer will notify the Commander of
the Communications and Technology Unit of the
date/time of video that should be retained and the
reason for retention.

(h)

By use of email, an officer will notify the Commander of
the Communications and Technology Unit of the
date/time of video that should not be available for public
review such as sensitive information, HIPAA data,
unduly embarrassing situations for the recorded
individual, etc. All such requests must be approved by
the Chief of Police.

620.3.6

Audit and Inspection
(a)

The department will implement an audit and inspection
function to conduct reviews that will ensure compliance
with the law and this policy. The reviews will also be
utilized to identify training needs and recognition of
exceptional performance.

5

 (b)

620.3.7

An Audit and Inspection report will be periodically
prepared for public review.
Accountability

(a)

Disciplinary action resulting in termination may be
initiated for any violation of this policy.

Thomas J. Nestel, III
Chief of Police

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