Overview Guidance for the M.P.A Use of Body Worn Video Devices
- Body worn cameras may be small, but they are not to be worn or used in a hidden or covert manner.
- The use of body worn cameras should be clearly advertised, when possible, before commencing recording.
- Body worn cameras should be used with reasonable discretion (e.g. a member of the public asking general questions would not expect to be recorded - if the camera is switched on the M.P.A officer should inform the person).
- Recordings should commence at the start of any deployment to an incident and should continue uninterrupted until the incident has concluded.
- A record must be made of the destruction of any non-evidential recording.
- Prior to disposal, all reasonable steps must have been taken to ensure that the images are not required as evidence in any case under investigation.
- All recordings from a M.P.A body camera stays securely and held in accordance with force procedures. Access to recordings is controlled and operated to view specific incidents may by the M.P.A command staff.
- BACKGROUND, SCOPE AND PURPOSE
- Body-worn cameras are an effective Private Security tool that can reduce violent
confrontations and complaints against officers. Body-worn cameras provide additional
documentation of public encounters and may be an important tool for collecting
evidence and maintaining public trust
- This policy is intended to provide officers with instructions on when and how to use body worn cameras.
- Metro Protection Agency has adopted the use of body-worn cameras to accomplish several
objectives, including:
- Body-worn cameras allow for accurate documentation of public contacts, bail bonds arrests, and critical incidents on clients property. They also serve to enhance the accuracy of officer reports and testimony.
- Audio and video recordings enhance Metro Protection Agency's ability to review probable
cause for arrest, officer and suspect interaction, and evidence for investigative and
prosecutorial purposes and to provide additional information for officer evaluation and
training.
- Body-worn cameras may also be useful in documenting crime and accident scenes
or other events that include the confiscation and documentation of evidence or
contraband.
Metro Protection Agency recognizes that video images cannot always show the full story nor do
video images capture an entire scene. The use of body-worn cameras does not reduce the
requirement to provide thorough written documentation of an incident. Persons reviewing
recordings must also be cautious before conclusions are reached about what the recordings
show.
PROCEDURES
- Prior to using a body-worn camera, officers shall receive Agency-approved training on
its proper operation and care and the Agency’s policy with respect to the use of the body worn camera. Additional training shall be provided at periodic intervals to ensure the
continued effective use of the equipment, proper calibration and performance, and to
incorporate changes, updates, or other revisions in policies or equipment.
- Body-worn cameras and equipment should be used with reasonable care to ensure proper functioning. Equipment malfunctions shall be brought to the attention of the officer’s supervisor as soon as possible so that a replacement unit may be assigned. Officers shall inspect and test body-worn cameras prior to each shift to verify proper functioning, and shall notify their supervisor of any problems.
- In the event that a body-worn camera is lost, upon discovery the officer shall immediately notify his/her supervisor.
- Officers shall wear body-worn cameras above the midline of their torso and in position
designed to produce an effective recording.
- Officers shall not use personally-owned body-worn cameras while on duty.
- Officers assigned a body-worn camera may use the camera at approved off-duty
employment, but only in connection with Metro Protection Agency duties.
OPERATION OF BODY-WORN CAMERAS
- Except as otherwise provided in this policy, officers shall activate body-worn cameras to
record all contacts with citizens in the performance of official duties.
- Unless the interaction with a citizen is in an undercover assignment, wherever possible
officers should inform individuals that they are being recorded. Officers have no obligation to
stop recording in response to a citizen’s request if the recording is pursuant to an investigation, bail bonds arrest, lawful search, or the circumstances clearly dictate that continued recording is necessary. However, officers should but may evaluate the situation and when appropriate, honor the citizen’s request. The request to turn the camera off should be recorded, as well as the officer’s response
- Deactivation of the body-worn camera shall occur when:
1. The event has concluded;
2. Victim and/or witness contact has concluded;
3. All persons stopped have been released;
4. Once an bail bond arrestee has been placed into a vehicle to be transported to a detention
facility. However, the officer transporting the arrestee to the detention facility shall
keep the officer’s body-worn camera activated until custody of the individual is
transferred to the detention facility.
- If an officer fails to activate a body-worn camera, or fails to record the entire contact, the officer shall document the reasons for doing so.
- Non-Metro Protection Agency personnel shall not be allowed to review the recordings unless pursuant to written consent of the chief.
- Officers is not required to activate body-worn cameras when engaged in conversations with individuals with whom the officer is in a privileged relationship (e.g., spouse, attorney, police peer counselor, labor representative, minister, etc.).
- Officers shall not edit, alter, erase, duplicate, copy, share, or otherwise distribute in any manner body-worn camera images and information without the prior written approval of the chief or the chief’s designee.
- Officers shall be allowed to review the recordings from their officer-worn body cameras at any time. To help ensure accuracy and consistency, officers are encouraged to review recording prior to preparing reports. If the officer is giving a formal statement about the use of force or if the officer is the subject of a disciplinary investigation, the officer shall (1) have the option of reviewing the recordings in the presence of the officer’s attorney or labor representative; and (2) have the right to review recordings from other body-worn cameras capturing the officer’s image or voice during the underlying incident.