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_____ _____________________________________________________________________________ General Order B -29 1 of 3 In-Car Recording System TEMPLE TERRACE POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERAL ORDER EFFECTIVE DATE : 01/30/2004 FILE INDEX NO. : B-29 SUBJECT: IN -CAR RECORDING SYSTEM INDEX AS: USE OF IN -CAR RECORDING SYSTEM RESCINDS: G.O.93 -1 REVISES: DATE REVISED: 10/04/2024 DISTRIBUTION: ALL SWORN MEMBER S AND EVIDENCE I. PURPOSE: To establish procedures and guidelines for the use, care, and maintenance of in -car recording equipment. This also provides an outline for usage in collecting and documenting evidence and a uniform method of recording and storing digital recordings. II. SCOPE: All sworn members Crime Scene / Evidence Coordinator (CS / EC) Digital Evidence Technician (D.E.T.) III. DISCUSSION: The nature of police work involves officers performing their duties and responsibilities in settings that can often be c onfrontational. One of the principal duties of a police officer is that of arbitrator, often seeking a resolution to a dispute. Police intervention, however, can be misinterpreted by witnesses, victims, and persons suspected of wrongdoing. While we work wi thin the public arena, our actions are often observed only by the officer and the person(s) who he/she is in direct contact with. In many cases , there is no independent third -party witness to a police -citizen contact. The use of in-car recording systems pr ovides officers with the tools necessary to ensure that they will have the means to obtain an independent and unbiased digital record of all police -citizen contacts. IV. DEFINITIONS: A. Department Vehicles – all vehicles owned or leased by the City of Temple Terrace and assigned to the Department. B. In-Car Recording System – an integrated audio and video recording system installed in designated department vehicles, designed to capture and document interactions, incidents, and events occurring in and around the vehicle . These systems are known to enhance safety, transparency, accountability, and evidence collection. V. Designated department vehicles are equipped with an in -car recording system for audio and video recording. Data recorded by this recording system is wirelessly transferred to storage . _____ _____________________________________________________________________________ General Order B -29 2 of 3 In-Car Recording System 1. Once data is transferred wirelessly , and is deemed of evidentiary value, the officer will inp ut the case number in the “ID” field on the video, using the format TTPD202X -000000 / TTPD(YEAR) -(6 DIGIT CASE NUMBER) . Evidentiary recordings will be held until manually deleted. 2. Data transferred wirelessly , that is not deemed of evidentiary value (known as “non - evidentiary value”) , is automatically purged by the system every 90 days. B. In-car digital recording equipment will be primarily installed in department vehicles assigned to the uniformed patrol divisi on. C. If an in -car recording will not upload, officers must inform a supervisor and the digital evidence technician via email. VI. EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATION AND REPAIR: A. The Temple Terrace Police Department utilizes two different types of in -car recording systems —WatchGuard and Axon. The department will acquire and replace systems as necessary. B. These systems should be operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and department general orders. The department will ensure access to the necessary equipment operating manuals. C. In the event of an in-car recording system malfunction: 1. Malfunctioning systems should be immediately reported to t he on -duty supervisor and to the Digital Evidence Technician. 2. Only the manufacturer or, in the case of minor issues authorized in advance by the manufacturer, department -approved personnel will attempt to repair a malfunctioning recording system . VII. DATA COLLECTION: A. Officers are reminded that in-car recording systems are extremely important law enforcement tools that provide an independent and unbiased account of events every time they are utilized. VIII. REQUIRED ACTI VATION: A. The in -car recording system will automatically activate and begin recording when the vehicle’s emergency lights are activated. At their discretion, officers may also manually activate the system to begin recordings without activating the emergency equipment. During traffic st ops. B. During arrests made in view of the in-Car recording system. C. During a D.U.I. investigation to capture observations of traffic violations and field sobriety testing. D. As circumstances allow during confrontational citizen/suspect contacts. 1. When not occupying a vehicle, an officer may utilize an Axon Body Worn Camera (BWC) to activate an Axon in -car camera system in close proximity to them . E. Circumstance s permitting, officers shall attempt to ensure t he in -car recording system is activated p rior to engaging in vehicle based law enforcement activit ies. F. Failure to activate the in -car recording system as outlined in this policy or the abuse or misuse of the in -car recording system may result in disciplinary action. IX. MANUAL SYSTEM OPERATION: A. Officers have the capability to manually activate the in-car recording system. Officers should utilize this option when practical : 1. During noise complaint or other disturbance type calls . 2. During traffic enforcement operations (e. g., parking viol ations) . _____ _____________________________________________________________________________ General Order B -29 3 of