Policy Text
Policy
422San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentPersonal Video Recording Device - 1Personal Video Recording Device
422.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
With the approval of the Watch Commander the San Luis Obispo Police Department will allow
personnel to use a Personal Video Recording Device. This device is designed to assist employees
in the performance of their duties. This device is used to record certain activities by providing a
visual and/or audio record. Video recordings are intended to provide an unbiased visual/audio
record of the incident and to supplement the officer's report.
422.1.1 REQUIRED ACTIVATION OF PERSONAL VIDEO RECORDING DEVICE
This policy is not designed to describe every possible situation where the system may be used
however there are many situations where the use of the Personal Video Recorder is appropriate.
In addition officers may activate the system any time he/she believes its use would be appropriate
and/or valuable to document an incident. In some circumstances it is not possible to capture
images of the incident due to conditions or location of the camera. However, the audio portion can
be valuable evidence and is subject to the same activation requirements.
a. All field contacts involving actual or potential criminal conduct, which includes:
1. Suspicious vehicles
2. Arrests
3. DUI investigations
b. Any other contact that becomes adversarial after the initial contact in a situation that would
otherwise require recording.
c. Any other circumstances where the officer believes that a recording of an incident would be
appropriate
422.1.2 REVIEW OF RECORDINGS
Recordings may be reviewed in any of the following situations:
(a)By a supervisor investigating an allegation of officer misconduct.
(b)By a department supervisor (after approval of the Chief of Police) who is participating
in an official investigation, such as a personnel complaint, administrative inquiry or a
criminal investigation.
(c)By a supervisor with the consent of the officers in the recording.
(d)By department personnel who request to review their own recordings.
(e)By court personnel through proper process or with permission of the Chief of Police
or his/her designee.
(f)By media personnel with permission of the Chief of Police or his/her designee.
San Luis Obispo Police Department
San Luis Obispo PD CA Policy Manual
Personal Video Recording Device
Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2025/07/01, All Rights Reserved.
Published with permission by San Luis Obispo Police
DepartmentPersonal Video Recording Device - 2Recordings may be shown for the purposes of training value. If an involved officer objects to the
showing of recording, his/her objection will be submitted to the Chief of Police to determine if the
training value outweighs the officer's objection for not showing the recording.
Employees desiring to view their own recording can access and view the recording from any
designated department computer.
In no event shall any recording be used or shown for the purpose of ridicule or embarrassing any
employee.
422.1.3 DOCUMENTING USE
Any incident that was recorded with either the video or audio system shall be documented in the
officer's report. If a citation was issued, a notation shall be placed on the back of the records copy
of the citation that the incident was recorded.
422.1.4 COPIES OF VIDEO RECORDING
Original video recording media shall not be used for any purpose other than for initial review by a
supervisor. A copy of the original video recording will be made upon proper request for any person
authorized in Policy Manual § 446.4.
Original video recording media may only be released in response to a valid court order or upon
approval by the Chief of Police or his/her designee.