50328811.pdf

\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER TITLE ACCREDITATION Digital Photography CALEA 83.2.2.a.b.c.d. PRIOR REVISIONS 10/24/2019 PROPONENT UNIT Forensic Crime Unit ATTACHMENT: -Appendix A- Example of Cover Photo NUMBER ISSUE DATE REVISION DATE TOTAL PAGES 83.5 10/24/2019 10/19/2022 I. PURPOSE: To establish a more effective and efficient way to take, store, retrieve, and produce photographs. II. POLICY: Digital photography will be the primary photographic means of the Gainesville Police Department. The following procedures describe the training, usage, downloading, and storage of digital photography and evidence. This order is intended for the use of the Gainesville Police Department and will not conflict with any federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations. Due to the ever-changing technology related to electronics and computer programs, these procedures and the digital photography processes are subject to change. The use of personally owned cameras, cell phones or other recording devices shall NOT be used for any official department business. [CALEA 83.2.2.d] III. PROCEDURE: A. Training: Training will be required of all sworn personnel, forensic crime unit members and police service technicians of the Gainesville Police Department to use digital cameras. Qualified personnel who are familiar with the usage of digital cameras and the database being used to store the photography information will conduct this training in coordination with the Training Division. Training may include, but is not be limited to the following: 1. Basic Crime Scene photography. 2. Understanding the digital camera. 3. Proper care and handling of the digital camera and memory card. 4. Mobile Photo Upload instructions to the department’s digital photo database (attachment #1) or evidence.com. B. Sworn personnel, forensic crime unit members and police service technician’s responsibilities\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT 1. Every photograph taken by a member of the Gainesville Police Department while on duty will be considered an official document and could be used in court. Only department issued equipment shall be utilized for this purpose. 2. All photographs will be uploaded to the department’s photograph database or evidence.com within 7 days. (Please see Attachment #1 for instructions) Major cases will be uploaded to the Mobile Photo Upload database by the end of shift. These cases include: Homicide, Robbery, Sexual Battery, Agg. Battery and Arson. 3. All photographs will be uploaded to the department’s photograph database using the related report number and the individual’s departmental identification number or uploaded to evidence.com. 4. Any printed or emailed photographs given to an officer during an investigation will be placed into Evidence as outlined in GO 83.1. A copy of the printed photograph can be placed in the Records bin to be scanned into the original report. C. Taking Photographs: 1. Initial Photograph/Cover Photo i. Should include the Case Number, Crime type, Address (where the photos were taken), Date, Photographer’s Name and ID. (See Appendix A). ii. The cover photo can be written on a dry erase board, envelope or utilizing a word document ***Photographs of VISINET are not acceptable*** 2. Location: Include a photograph of the street sign, address, and business/apartment name if applicable 3. Incident i. Take an ‘overview’ photograph of the area of interest. ii. Take a “medium-range” photograph of the area of interest. iii. Take a “close up” photograph (with and without a scale, if necessary) of the area of interest. For example: If taking photographs of a victim’s injured arm: a Cover Photo 2\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT b Location c Overall shot of person d Photograph of arm/torso e Close up of the arm (without a scale) f Close up of the arm (with a scale to establish size/perspective) NOTE: When taking photographs for evidence it is recommended that a flash be used. D. Maintenance of Equipment 1. Digital cameras, batteries, SD cards, and scales will be issued to sworn personnel, FCU personnel and police service technicians as available, with corresponding documentation of the camera’s serial number and personnel identification number. 2. Smartphones will be issued to all sworn personnel, FCU personnel and police service technicians as available, for photography. 3. All individuals issued a digital camera kit are responsible for the care and proper handling of the camera. Any lost, damaged, or broken cameras or memory cards shall be immediately reported in writing via an IOC through the chain of command. E. Storage, Security, & Access (CALEA 83.2.2 a-c) 1. Storage i. All digital photographic evidence will be uploaded directly to the department’s photograph database or evidence.com. ii. The Forensic Crime Unit Photo Technician is responsible for maintaining the photograph file folders. It will be their responsibility to upload and transfer files / folders into the final secure storage server. iii. External Electronic Storage Devices may be utilized as a backup to the department’s photograph database. 2. Security and Access: i. A level of access to the department’s server will be limited to specific personnel within the Forensic Crime Unit, CID, Supervisors, Traffic Unit. a Personnel will have read-only access to view photographs for investigational purposes. b Only the Photo Technician will have edit access to properly manage the database. 3\n\n--- Page 4 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ii. To ensure proper electronic chain of custody, individuals only have access to their individual electronic folder in the Mobile Photo Uploads database. iii. It is forbidden to alter or enhance an original photograph. Any enhancement to a photograph will only occur to a duplicate photograph and every enhancement will be noted. F. Providing Photographs to Outside Entities: The Forensic Crime Unit shall handle all requests for photographs as outlined below: 1. State Attorney’s Office: When processing requests for photographs from the State Attorney’s Office, the employee performing this task will produce the photos in digital format. The employee will document the submission via the Service Request Log. 2. Defense Attorneys: When processing requests for photographs from defense attorneys, a discovery notice must be presented, or be requested through the State Attorney’s Office. The requestor must provide the case number and any other information related to the request. Payment is expected at the time of the request and is accomplished through the Records Division. 3. Civil Attorney’s & Private Citizens: When civil attorneys and private citizens request photographs, they will be referred to the Records Division. The Records Division will coordinate with the Forensic Crime Unit personnel to determine if the case is open or closed and whether or not the photos may be released, in accordance with Chapter 119, Florida State Statutes, Public Records Law. If the photos are releasable, all payments and receipts will be processed through the Records Division. The emailing and distribution of digital and/or hard copies of photographs is authorized. By Order of Signed Original on File in the Accreditation Unit Lonnie Scott Chief of Police 4\n\n--- Page 5 ---\n\nGAINESVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT Appendix A: Cover Photo 5