Policy Text
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 525.07
Page 1 of 5
525.0 7
BODY -WORN CAMERA
1-16-19
PURPOSE
This policy is intended to provide officers with instructions on when and how to use body -worn cameras
(BWCs) so that they may reliably record their investigations and enforcement activity in accordance with
the law and in order to provide accountability a nd transparency to the public.
POLICY
It shall be the policy of the Sacramento Police Department (SPD) to utilize a BWC in a manner that
will assist in criminal investigations and prosecutions as well as civil litigation , by providing a recording
of the incident that may supplement an employee’s report and help document police conduct ,
investigations , and enforcement activity .
PROCEDURE
A. DEFINITIONS
1. On Position - Switching the on/off switch o f the camera into a standby mode which allows the
camera, when activated, to capture the previous 30 seconds of video .
2. Activation - Triggering the Body Worn Camera by touch or any other method, which initiat es
the audio and video recording functions.
3. De-Activation – Discontinuing audio and video recording and returning the camera to a
standby mode in the on position.
4. BLUE TEAM (BT) – IA Pro Blue Team is Web -based computer software that allows sergeants
to enter use of force incidents , pursu its, and audits from a Department computer .
5. Muting – A function of the BWC that allows for video recording while audio recording is
disabled.
6. Stealth Mode – A function of the BWC where the LED indicator lights, sounds, and vibrations
are disabled.
B. GENERAL
1. All employees issued a BWC are required to wear and use their BWC s while working in
uniform. A “uniform” is to be considered the standard uniform of the day based on
assignment. This would include, but is not limited to, any apparel (e.g., tactical/raid vests ,
visible badge and firearm ) that identifies the wearer as a police officer.
a. Exceptions :
(1) Uniformed personnel attending a formal event or funeral .
(2) Personnel working in an undercover capacity or while conducting plain clothes
surveillance where the intent is not to be identified as a police officer and no
enforcement action is planned .
(3) Personn el working in an administrative assignment . However , they shall always
have them readily available to use in accordance with this general order .
(4) Personnel with express managerial approval under special circumstances.
2. BWC video recordings help provide context and capture beneficial information during police
investigati ons and enforcement contact s with members of the public. Because BWC
recordings provide only a limited perspective of the encounter, all other available evidence,
such as witness statements, employee interviews, forensic analy sis, and documentary
evidence should be considered before any conclusio ns are reached.
3. BWC should assist in the following:
a. Documenting an initial police response.
SACRAMENTO POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
GO 525.07
Page 2 of 5
b. Collecting evidence for use in investigations and prosecutions.
c. Helping employees with completing reports and testifying in court.
d. Deterring criminal activity and uncooperative behavior during police -public interactions.
e. Promoting accountability.
f. Recording video for use in training SPD employees.
g. Documenting the performance and professionalism of SPD employees.
4. BWC video is not meant to replace or to r elieve the employee from submitting any
documentation as required by policy.
5. All recordings made using BWCs are the property of SPD and will not be released or
disseminated to the public without the express written consent of the Chief of Police (COP) or
authorized designee or unless otherwise expressly required by federal or state law.
C. EMPLOYEE RESPONSIBILITY
1. Employees issued a BWC shall be trained in the proper use of the device prior to deployment.
2. Employees issued a BWC shall :
a. Be responsible for the reasonable care and maintenance of the BWC they are issued .
b. Ensure the BWC s are functioning properly.
c. Affix their issued BWC to their uniforms above the beltline at the beginning of their shift in
accordance with training and the manufacturer's guidelines. The BWC shall be worn for
the entire shift.
d. Ensure their issued BWC is fully charged and has adequate video storage to complete the
shift.
e. Only use BWCs that have been approved by the Department.
f. Ensure the BWC is placed in the o n position after leaving a police facility or a detention
facility.
3. Generally, employees shall begin download ing all media prior to the end of their shift; however,
supervisors may approve other download schedules when appropriate.
4. When a report is genera ted, employees shall document their use of the BWC or ensure that it is
documented by another employee. Employees are required to spell out “body -worn camera ” at
least once in the associated report prior to referring to the initials “BWC” later in the repo rt.
5. Employees are authorized to review their own BWC recordings, including prior to giving a
statement after being involved in a critical incident, when writing a report, testifying in court or
other proceeding, or for any other official use.
6. Employees may be authorized to review other employees’ BWC recording after being involved
in a critical incident.
7. Employees shall not tamper with or modify any part of the B