Policy Text
Policy
346University of California Irvine Police Department
UC Irvine PD Policy Manual
Body Worn Audio/Video System
346.1 PURPOSE
The University of California is committed to officer safety and public safety. The University has
equipped its police departments with body worn audio-visual cameras (“BWV’s”, “devices” or
“cameras”) for use as part of the officer’s uniform for the recording of field activity in the course
of official police duties. The cameras are intended to provide a visual and audio record of police
duties, including public contacts, arrests, and critical incidents. BWV’s provide documentation
to be used in criminal investigations and prosecutions, internal or administrative investigations,
training, and other circumstances. They also serve to enhance the accuracy of police reports,
testimony in court, and enhance the Department’s community relationship-based policing efforts.
Body worn cameras provide a limited perspective of any encounter and must be considered with
all available facts and evidence, such as officer perception, witness statements, officer interviews,
other available video documentation, forensic and/or expert analysis, and documentary evidence.
The cameras cannot always show the full narrative nor do they capture an entire scene. The use
of cameras does not reduce or alter the requirement to provide thorough written documentation
as required by this or other policies.
Persons reviewing recordings must be cautious before conclusions are reached about what the
video shows, or when evaluating the appropriateness of an officer’s actions in a particular situation.
Evaluating an officer’s actions must take into account a variety of factors and other circumstances.
The University is committed to officer safety and public safety. Officers must follow existing officer
safety policies when contacting citizens or conducting vehicle stops as outlined in Department
policies and procedures. Officer safety and the safety of the public shall always be the primary
consideration, not the ability to record an event.
This policy is intended to balance the respect for privacy and other University values with
legal, policy, and administrative obligations. Officers should remain sensitive to the dignity of all
individuals being recorded and exercise sound discretion at all times.
346.2 POLICY
346.2.1 REQUIRED USERS
The following sworn personnel, from Lieutenant through Officer, are required to wear the BWV
system while on duty, unless otherwise exempted by this Chapter:
(a)Uniformed personnel while on regular assignment or on overtime status;
(b)Detectives working in the field in an enforcement or specialized investigative (e.g.,
gang task force, violent crime task force) capacity, unless the use of BWV may
compromise the identity of an undercover officer, confidential informant, or jeopardize
tactics;
(c)Personnel serving a search warrant, unless the use of the BWV may compromise the
identity of an undercover officer, confidential informant, or jeopardize officer safety or
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Body Worn Audio/Video System
tactics. Any exception to recording pursuant to this subsection (c) must receive prior
approval from the Chief of Police or designee;
(d)Other sworn personnel deemed appropriate by the Chief of Police or designee.
346.3 DEPARTMENT-ISSUED EQUIPMENT ONLY
Officers assigned a BWV camera must not use any other non-Department issued video or audio
equipment, such as personally owned video or audio equipment, mobile devices or cell phones, to
record enforcement or investigative activities involving members of the public unless authorized
by the Chief of Police or designee.
Nothing in this policy precludes officers or other Department personnel from using authorized still
photography equipment.
346.4 LOCATION OF BODY WORN CAMERA
The BWV camera generally consists of a body-mounted camera with a built-in microphone. The
BWV shall be worn on the outside of the outermost garment (e.g., load-bearing vest, raincoat) or
other departmental approved mounting option, on the upper torso, and facing forward in such a
way to facilitate optimum recording field of view.
346.5 REQUIRED ACTIVATION OF BODY WORN CAMERA
Subject to the exceptions contained in this Chapter, or pursuant to the direction of a supervisor,
officers shall activate their BWV device prior to initiating any criminal investigative or enforcement
activity involving a member of the public, including all:
(a)Vehicle or bicycle enforcement stops;
(b)Pedestrian stops;
(c)Calls for service;
(d)Foot pursuits;
(e)Searches (except strip searches);
(f)Arrests;
(g)Uses of force;
(h)In-custody transports;
(i)Witness or victim interviews;
(j)Forced entry search warrants/tactical deployments;
(k)When weapons other than those in the possession of law enforcement are present
or alleged to be present;
(l)Any encounter that becomes adversarial after the initial contact;
(m)Initial inventory of seized money or high value property;
(n)Crowd management events;
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2024/07/31, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by University of California Irvine
Police DepartmentBody Worn Audio/Video System - 343
University of California Irvine Police Department
UC Irvine PD Policy Manual
Body Worn Audio/Video System
(o)Other investigative or enforcement activities where, in the officer’s judgment, a video
recording would assist in the investigation or prosecution of a crime, or assist in
documenting the incident for later investigation or review.
346.6 EXCEPTIONS TO REQUIRED ACTIVATION OR CONTINUED RECORDING
Exceptions to required activation or continuation of the BWV recording are:
(a)When, in the officer’s judgment, activation,