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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: September 13, 2023  Amends - GO 9.1.9 ( September 24, 2021 ) Number: 9.1.9 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: April Reviewing Authority: HRD / Training Subject: Body Worn Cameras (BWC) This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines and procedures for using body worn camera (BWC) equipment to enhance the public trust by:  being transparent in our law enforcement services;  preserving evidence of employee interaction s with the public;  capturing and preserving evidence for court;  assisting employees with recalling facts or other details captured by the BWC , that will help them accurately articulate the chain of events when writing reports; and  serving as a training tool to a ssess officer safety, best practices a nd our interpersonal actions with the public. 2. Policy It is the policy of the agency that employees , who are issued a BWC, shall activate the agency issued body worn camera when such use is appropriate to the proper 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 operati ons. 3. Definitions A. Body Worn Camera (BWC ) – an agency issued video and audio recording s ystem worn on a employee’s person, designed to record events for secure storage, retrieval, and analysis. B. Buffering Mode (Stand -by Mode) – When the battery pack power switch is in the “on” position. This mode allows the camera to capture one minute of pre- activation video imagery and audio . C. Docking Station – A secured device that transmits BWC information, charges the BWC and provides manufacture updates to the equipment. 9.1.9, Page 2 of 7 D. Mobile Video System Coordinator (MVSC ) – agency member responsible for the coordination of body worn and in -car camera sy stems. E. Mobile Video System Unit (MVSU) - Unit responsible for the coordination of body worn and in -car camera systems. F. Evidence.com - Axon Enterprise, Inc (Axon) solution for secure digital media storage and management. G. Evidence SYNC - An internet based software that enables transfer of data to the digital evidence management system. H. Tagging/Tag /Identifying –Labeling or id entifying a particular video in the approved video evidence storage system in accordance with agency approved training. I. Test Video – Non-evidentiary video of any length of time. With the power switch in the “on” positon, double press the event button to record a video. Press and hold the event button to stop the recording. J. Uploading – The transmission of information from a BWC to a main server designed to hold video evidence, an authorized uploading procedure . 4. Procedures A. General Body Worn Camera Equipment Procedures 1. Deployment Criteria a. Employees shall only wear agency issued BWC's. b. BWC's will be used for official purposes only. c. BWC's will only be used by employees after they have received agency approved training. d. Employe es wearing a uniform while working in an on or off -duty capacity shall wear their BWC's. The only exception to this is attending a memorial service or awards ceremony, while wearing a class A uniform and tie. e. Employees shall wear their BWC in such a way wh ere the camera's view is unobstructed. The BWC will be worn in accordance with the manufacturer recommendation and agency approved training. f. Non Uniformed Patrol deputies wearing a tactical vest/external body armor shall also wear their issued BWC's. g. When Non Uniformed Patrol deputies don a tactical vest/external body armor, the issued BWC will be placed in buffering mode. These deputies a re not required to keep their BWC in buffering mode for their entire shift if the tactical vest/external body armor is not being worn. 2. Activation Criteria a. Employees are required to keep their BWC in Buffering Mode during the entirety of their shift. This allows the buffering feature to work and capture critical pre -activation video when the camera is 9.1.9, Page 3 of 7 activated. b. Employees shall activate the BWC prior to any citizen or arrestee is being transported in an agency vehicle to any location. The BWC will be activated when the transport begins and deactivated upon arrival at the final destination. Employees shall notify communications with the beginning and ending mileage during the transport. Exceptions to the activation of the camera and on/off mileage during transport are family members, other agency personnel or civilians approved to ride with employee per GO 6.2.20 . c. Employees shall activate the ir BWC when relocating or moving any inmate or arrestee to a different location. d. This policy is not intended to describe every possible situation in which the BWC system may be used; Employees are required to activate their body -worn camer as when arriving on scene or in anticipation of self-initiating law enforcement -related encounters and activities