798102

41.3 BODY WORN CAMERAS Page 1 of 9 EDGEWOOD POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER # 41. 3 BODY WORN CAMERAS Revised Date: March 28, 2024 The purpose of this General Order is to establish directions for the creation, implementation, compliance and management of Bod y Worn Cameras (BWC) and to explain their purpose, features and use. It is also the policy of the Edgewood Police Department that transparency is critical in maintaining accountability and enhancing trust between the department and the public. This order c onsists of the following numbered sections: I. Definitions II. Body Worn Cameras III. Body Worn Cameras Procedures IV. Documentation V. Restrictions VI. Supervisory Responsibility VII. Mobile Video System Administrator VIII. Dissemination IX. Storage & Retention X. Training XI. Video Retention Categories & Length of Retention I. DEFINITIONS A. Body -Worn Camera (BWC): A recording system that captures audio and video that is individually worn by officers and includes, at a minimum, a camera and recorder. B. Buffering: The thirty seconds of video prior to activation of the BWC event mode held in temporary storage. C. Evidence Dock: A docking station that recharges the camera controller while uploading all data captured from the BWC to evidence storage solution. D. Cloud storage solution: The onl ine web -based digital media storage facility. The virtual warehouse stores digitally -encrypted data (photographs, audio and video recordings) in a highly -secure environment. E. Mobile Video System Administrator (MVSA): Department member with full administrat or rights who assigns and tracks equipment, controls passwords, acts 41.3 BODY WORN CAMERAS Page 2 of 9 as liaison with equipment vendor representatives and is the department’s subject matter expert on all vehicle and body -worn devices. F. Critical Incidents: A critical incident includes offic er involved shootings, any in - custody death and any other incident where the Chief of Police determines that release of video recordings is required to promote transparency. II. BODY -WORN CAMERAS A. Officers assigned a BWC shall do a fully -operational system check prior to their tour of duty. In order to best capture that which is observed by an officer using a BWC, the camera should be located as close to the eyes as possible. Officers shall activate the body worn camera when such use is appropriate to the prop er performance of his or her official duties and when the recordings are consistent with this policy and law. This policy does not govern the use of surreptitious recording devices used in undercover operations. III. BODY -WORN CAMERAS PROCEDURES A. Officers are required to ensure that the BWC is working properly and fully charged at the beginning of every shift. Officers in uniform who are engaged in law enforcement duties (whether in an on -duty or extra -duty capacity) are required to have the BWC po wered on and to wear and utilize the BWC. Officers shall wear the BWC above the midline of their torso and in a position that provides for effective recording. B. Officers shall activate the BWC prior to arriving on scene of a dispatched call for service , at the start of any self -initiated activity, or whenever there is a potential for dealing with a suspect of a crime, or any concern of officer safety. This would include, but is not limited to, traffic stops, vehicle/foot pursuits, suspicious person contacts , investigative vehicle contacts and/or responding to calls in an emergency stat us. C. When conducting routine traffic stop s or routine suspicious person or vehicle encounters , the officer shall activate the BWC prior to calling in the traffic stop or suspicious person/vehicle encounter to dispatch. Routine t raffic stops shall be called in to dispatch prior to activating emergency equipment. D. The BWC may be activated whenever the officer feels its use would be beneficial to his/her law enforcement d uties. E. Once the camera is activated to record (the “event” mode), it shall remain on until the police action is complete. During an arrest situation, the BWC shall remain on until the officer is inside the sallyport area of the jail or DUI Center. At any point during activation an officer has just cause to turn off the BWC prior to the normal conclusion of the call/incident, officers will verbally state the reason prior to deactivating the camera (e.g. processing a scene, remaining on accident sce ne waiting on tow truck). 41.3 BODY WORN CAMERAS Page 3 of 9 F. Officers providing assistance to other law enforcement agencies will notify them that the incident is being recorded. G. Officers are not required to activate the BWC during interactions with crime victims, witnesses and members of t he community who wish to report or discuss criminal activity. Officers should balance the value of obtaining a recording with the possible reluctance of a victim or witness to provide the informati on while being recorded. When o fficers are interacting wi th a crime victim and the BWC is activated, they shall inform the victim they are being recorded and obtain consent to continue the recording. If a suspect is present, (e.g. domestic violence investigation), the officer shall not turn off