Redondo Beach Police Department Policy Manual COPY 5 copy I the exciuswe use maelstrom Neither It nor the Inrormat on containec hereon to be furn shed Use of AudiolDigital Recorders Redonco Beach Pol ce Dept 450_1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE ?I.-24f201? ESEARCY ComCate #26851 This policy provides guidelines for the use of portable audiolvideo recording devices by members of this department while in the performance of their duties. This policy does not apply to surreptitious interception of electronic communications for lawful authorized investigative purposes or to mobile audio video recordings (see the Mobile Audio Video Policy). 450.2 POLICY The Redondo Beach Police Department may provide members with access to portable recorders. either audio or video or both. for use during the performance of their duties. The use of recorders is intended to enhance the mission of the Department by accurately capturing contacts between members of the Department and the public. 450.3 PRIVACY All recordings made by personnel acting in their of?cial capacity as members of this department shall remain the property of the Department and should not be considered private. regardless of whether those recordings were made with department-issued or personally owned recorders. 450.4 MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES Prior to going into service. each uniformed member will be responsible for making sure that he! she is equipped with a portable recorder. issued by the Department. and that the recorder is in good working order. Uniformed members should wearfcarry the recorder throughout their shift. Any member assigned to a non-uniformed position may carry an approved portable recorder at any time the member believes that such a device may be useful. When using a recorder, the assigned member shall record hisiher name. employee number and the current date and time at the beginning and the end of the shift or other period of use, regardiess of whether any activity was recorded. This procedure is not required when the recording device and related software captures the user's unique identi?cation and the date and time of each recording. 450.5 ACTIVATION OF THE AUDIO RECORDER Members of the Department are encouraged to activate their recorders at any time that they reasonably believe that a recording of an on-duty contact with a member of the public may be of future bene?t. Once started. recordings should continue without interruption until the contact ends. if feasible. At no time is a member expected to jeopardize hislher safety in order to activate a recorder or change the recording media. However. the recorder should be activated in required situations as soon as practicable. Use of AudioiDigitat Recorders - 350 Adoption Date. 2015110121 in 1995?2015 Lexipol, LLC COPY I Th C0 I i Redondo Beach Police Department Mm We use 0 . SM Pm? Neither it nor the :niormation contamed hereon is to be tumishec Use of Audio/Digital Recorders to Other person or agency except Ill? ?u dioceses-bylaw.? Redondo Beach Police Dept 1r24r201? ESEARCY ComCate #25351 450.5.1 SURREPTITIOUS USE OF THE AUDIO RECORDER Members of the Department may surreptitiously record any conversation during the course of a criminal investigation in which the of?cer reasonably believes that such a recording will be bene?cial to the investigation (Penal Code 633). Members shall not surreptitiously record another department member without a court order or unless lawfully authorized by the Chief of Police or the authorized designee. 450.8 PROHIBITED USE OF PORTABLE RECORDERS Members are prohibited from using department-issued portable recorders and recording media for personal use and are prohibited from making personal cepies of recordings created while cn- duty or while acting in their of?cial capacity. Members are also prohibited from retaining recordings of activities or infom'iaticn obtained while cn-duty. whether the recording was created with department-issued or personally owned recorders. Members shall not duplicate or distribute such recordings. except for authorized legitimate department business purposes. All such recordings shaii be retained at the Department. Members are prohibited from using personally owned racerding devices while on-duty without the express consent of the Divison Commander. Any member who uses a personally owned recorder for department-related activities shall comply with the provisions of this policy, including retention and release requirements. Recordings shall not be used by any member for the purpose of embarrassment or ridicule. Any member who may have questions regarding the application of this policy is encouraged to seek clari?cation from supervisory personnel. 450.7 RETENTION OF RECORDINGS Any time a member records any portion of a contact that the member reasonably believes constitutes evidence in a criminal case. the member shall record the rotated case number and download the file in accordance with the Computers and Digital Evidence Policy and document the existence of the recording in the related case report. Any time a member reasonably believes a recorded contact may be bene?cial in a non-criminat matter a hostile contact). the member should notify a supervisor of the existence of the recording. Members should upload the file, in accordance with current procedure for storing digital ?les. at the end of their shift and any time the storage capacity is nearing its iimit. 450.7.1 RETENTION REQUIREMENTS . All recordings shall be retained for a period consistent with the requirements of the organization records retention schedule but in no event for a period less than 180 days. Lisa of AudiorDigital Recorders - 351 Adoption Date: 201511 cm 6 1995-2015 Lexipol. LLC Redondo Beach Police Department Policy Manual Use of Audio/Digital Recorders 450.8 RELEASE OF RECORDINGS Recordings made using portable recording devices pursuant to this poiicy are department records and may only be released as provided in the Release of Records and information Policy or for other authorized legitimate department business purposes. 450.9 REVIEW OF RECORDED MEDIA FILES When preparing written reports. members should review their recordings as a resource. However. members should not use the fact that a recording was made as a reason to write a less detailed report. Supervisors are authorized to review relevant recordings any time they are investigating alleged misconduct, reports of meritorious conduct or whenever such recordings wouid be bene?cial in reviewing the member?s performance. Recorded ?les may also be reviewed: Upon approval by a supervisor. by any member of the Department who is participating in an of?cial investigation. such as a personnel complaint. administrative investigation or criminal investigation. Pursuant to lawful process or by court personnel who are otherwise authorized to review evidence in a reiated case. By media personnel with permission of the Chief of Police or the authorized designee. In compliance with a public records request. if permitted. and in accordance with the Release of Records and Information Policy. COPY copyi for the exclusive use of: Mm {5 Neither it nor the infon'nat'on contained hereon is to be furnished to any other person or agency except as authorized bylaw. Redonco Beach Police Dept 1i24i201'r? ESEARCY ComCate #26851 Use of AudioiDigitaI Recorders - 352 Adoption Date; it} 1995-2515 Lexipol. LLC