20-14

GENERAL ORDER 20-14 BODY WORN CAMERA 1 P L A N T C I T Y P O L I C E D E P A R T M E N T General Order Title BODY WORN CAMERA General Order Number 20-14 Effective: 06/01/2022 Revised: 06/10/2024 Reviewed : 08/09/2024 CFA: To establish guidelines an d procedures for the use, maintenance and management of the body worn cameras. (BWC) This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) applies to all Department officers. It is the policy of the Plant City Police Department to utilize a body worn camera to document law enforcement interactions with the public by providing recorded evidence of actions, conditions and statements. Officers have a legal right to capture and record footage during all official in teractions. Body Worn Camera (BWC) --means a portable electronic recording device that is worn on a law enforcement officer’s body and that records audio and video data in the course of the officer performing his or her offici al duties and responsibilities. Call for service -- any dispatched or self -initiated activity by any officer to resolve, correct or assist a particular situation . Citizen interaction -- any c all for service, consensual encounter, investigatory stop, traffic stop, arrest, pursuit, use of force, search, interview, or any other form of contact with, or observation of, a member of the public or person under investigation or detention. Digital evidence -- information of probative value stored or transmitted in di gital form. Evidence library .com -- the online web -based digital media st orage facility accessed at www.e vidence library .com. The virtual warehouse stores digitally -encrypted data (photographs, audio and video recordings) in a highly secure environment. The d igital recordings are accessible to authorized personnel based upon a security clearance and the system maintains an audit of user activity. Personal representative -- means a parent of a minor , a court appointed guardian, an attorney, or an agent of, or a person holding power of attorney for, a person recorded by a body camera. If a person depicted in DEFI NITIONS PURPOSE DISCUSSION INTENT GENERAL ORDER 20-14 BODY WORN CAMERA 2 the recording is deceased, the term also means the personal representativ e of the estate o f the deceased person; the deceased person’s surviving spouse, par ent, or adult child; the deceased person’s attorney or agent; or the parent or guardian of a surviving minor child of the deceased . An agent must possess written authorization of the recorded person to act on his or her behalf. Public Records Liaison – a person trained to perform clerical duties to retrieve and maintain records of City documents in accordance with Florida State Statutes Public Records laws. System Administrator -- Evidence library.com system administrator with full access to user rights who assigns and tracks equipment, controls passwords, and acts as liaison with the BWC manufacturer representatives. Digital Evidence Technician - Designated Plant City Police Department personnel with full administrator rights and responsibilities as described in this standard operating procedure. A. Officers who are assigned body worn recording equipment will adhere to the following procedures. B. Operation and use of the BWC is mandatory for all of ficers working in a law enforcement assignment as follows: 1. Regular On -duty assignments: Police Officers, Corporals and Sergeant, 2. Off-duty Details: All sworn personnel working an off-duty detail (in the capacity of a Police Officer, Corporal, Serg eant) will use a BWC. 3. Officers/ Detectives performing as their regular duties, traffic stops, or responding to service calls will activate their BWC. 4. Special events or any ev ents deemed by the Chief of Police or designee. C. Issue and ope rational/ maintenance checks: 1. At the start of each shift or assignment, to include extra duty and or special events, officers will ensure the recording system is receiving power and functioning properly. The officer will do the following: a. Check the status light to ensure the system is ready, b. Inspect and test all associated equipment, c. Ensure the unit is fully charged prior to each shift or assignment, d. During the cour se of their shift or assignment, the officer will check the status , and e. Periodically check the lens and microphone to ensure the equipment is clear of 20-14.1 RESTRICTIONS RULES AND PROCEDURES GENERAL ORDER 20-14 BODY WORN CAMERA 3 any debris or obstruction which could hinder recording. 2. Officers who discover their issued equipment is not operating correctly must notify their supervisor immediately and arrange for a replacement device and this action will be documented by the supervisor in a memorandum. 3. Officers will not attempt to repair the equipment . 4. Any damage, malfunction or other operational problem will be reported to the s upervisor and the system administrator. If status and/or damage is due to officer negligence, this action will be documented by the supervisor in a memorandum. D. Supervisors, when notified of any malfunctioning equipment, will inspect the device and d ecide whether to continue use of the equipment or return it for repair or replacement. 1. Supervisors will consider the extent of damage and the availability of spare or replacement equip ment. 2. All BWC equipment will be inspected during line inspe ctions. E