Policy South Pasadena Police Department 425 Policy Manual Body-Worn Audio and Video Recording Procedure 425.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE The South Pasadena Police Department will provide officers with a body-worn camera recording system. The camera is designed to assist and compliment officers in the performance of his/ her duties and used to record certain activities by providing a visual and/or audio record. The recordings are intended to provide an unbiased visual/audio record of the incident and to supplement the officer's report. 425.2 OFFICER RESPONSIBILITIES Officers provided a body-worn camera will test the system by recording his/her name, serial number and the current date and time at the start and again at the end of each shift. If the system is malfunctioning, the Support Services Sergeant shall be advised. 425.3 ACTIVATION OF THE BODY-WORN CAMERA The body-worn camera system is activated and turned off manually by the officer. 425.3.1 REQUIRED ACTIVATION OF BODY-WORN CAMERA This policy is not intended to describe every possible situation where the system may be used, however there are many situations where the use of the body-worn camera system is appropriate. In addition to the required situations, officers may activate the system any time he/she believes its use would be appropriate and/or valuable to document an incident. In some circumstances, it is not possible to capture images of the incident due to conditions or location of the camera. However, the audio portion can still be obtained and is valuable evidence. The activation of the system is required in any of the following situations: (a) (b) All field contacts involving actual or potential criminal conduct, within video or audio range, which includes: 1. Vehicular pursuits 2. Suspicious vehicles 3. Arrests 4. Pedestrian checks 5. DUI investigations including field sobriety tests 6. Consensual encounters 7. Responding to an in-progress call All self-initiated activity in which an officer would normally notify the Dispatch Center Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2017/01/05, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by South Pasadena Police Department Body-Worn Audio and Video Recording Procedure - 1 South Pasadena Police Department Policy Manual Body-Worn Audio and Video Recording Procedure (c) Any call for service involving a crime where the recorder may aid in the apprehension and/ or prosecution of a suspect, such as: 1. Domestic violence calls 2. Disturbance of peace calls 3. Offenses involving violence or weapons (d) Any other contact that becomes adversarial after the initial contact in a situation that would not otherwise require recording (e) Any other circumstances where the officer believes that a recording of an incident would be appropriate Once the body-worn camera system is activated, it shall remain on until the incident has concluded. For purposes of this section, conclusion of an incident has occurred when all arrests have been made, arrestees have been transported, and all witnesses, victims, etc. have been interviewed. Recording may cease if an officer is simply waiting for a tow truck or a family member to arrive or other similar situations. 425.3.2 ACTIVATION NOT REQUIRED Activation of the body-worn camera system is not to be used when exchanging information with other officers or during breaks, lunch periods, when not in service, or actively on patrol. Absent legal cause or lawful order, no member of this department may surreptitiously record any other member of this department without the expressed knowledge and consent of all parties 425.4 DOCUMENTING BODY-WORN CAMERA USE Any incident that was recorded with either the video or audio system shall be documented in the officer's report. If a citation was issued, a notation shall be placed on the back of the Records' copy of the citation that the incident was recorded. 425.5 VIDEO MEDIA STORAGE AND INTEGRITY Original video recording media shall not be used for any purpose other than for initial review by a supervisor. A copy of the original video recording will be made upon proper request for any person authorized in Policy Manual § 446.4. 425.6 COPIES OF VIDEO RECORDINGS Original video recording media shall not be used for any purpose other than for initial review by a supervisor. A copy of the original video recording will be made upon proper request for any person authorized in Policy Manual § 446.4. Original video recording media may only be released in response to a valid court order or upon approval by the Chief of Police or his/her designee. In the event that an original recording is released to court, a copy shall be made and placed in storage until the original is returned. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2017/01/05, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by South Pasadena Police Department Body-Worn Audio and Video Recording Procedure - 2 South Pasadena Police Department Policy Manual Body-Worn Audio and Video Recording Procedure 425.7 BODY-WORN CAMERA RECORDINGS AS EVIDENCE Only in exceptional circumstances will original video media be booked into evidence. The exceptions would include a major event such as a homicide or as directed by the Watch Commander or a member of staff. If a video media is booked into evidence, it shall be booked in the same manner as other property and referenced in the case report. 425.8 REVIEW OF BODY-WORN CAMERA RECORDINGS Recordings may be reviewed in any of the following situations: (a) By a supervisor investigating a specific act of officer conduct (b) By a department detective after approval of a supervisor who is participating in an official investigation, such as a personnel complaint, administrative inquiry or a criminal investigation (c) By department personnel who request to review their own recordings (d) By court personnel through proper process or with permission of the Chief of Police or his/her designee e. By media personnel with permission of the Chief of Police or his/her designee (e) Recordings may be shown for the purposes of training value. If an involved officer objects to the showing of recording, his/her objection will be submitted to staff to determine if the training value outweighs the officer's objection for not showing the recording. Employees desiring to view any body-worn camera recording shall submit a request in writing to the Watch Commander. In no event shall any recording be used or shown for the purpose of ridicule or embarrassing any employee. Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2017/01/05, All Rights Reserved. Published with permission by South Pasadena Police Department Body-Worn Audio and Video Recording Procedure - 3