7.136 Flashcards
What is the purpose of Body Worn Cameras (BWCs) in policing?
Promoting professionalism, public trust, and transparency by recording citizen contacts with officers and capturing video/audio evidence for criminal prosecutions and internal investigations.
Which two components make up the BWC system used by the department?
Axon Body 4 (AB4) camera and remote-mounted Flex point of view (POV) camera.
Who is responsible for managing the department’s BWC program?
The Digital Technology Section (DTS).
Which officers are issued BWCs?
Uniformed officers, sergeants, plainclothes officers, cadets, and any member transferring or promoted to an assignment requiring a BWC.
What must happen to newly issued BWCs upon separation from the department?
They must be immediately returned to the Systems Administration Unit (SAU) or the AOB Supply Section for DSD assignments.
What are officers prohibited from using while on duty?
Personally owned recording devices; they must use their assigned BWC system.
What is required from officers before utilizing their BWC?
They must undergo training conducted by SAU and the Organizational Development Bureau (ODB).
What should officers confirm at the start of each shift regarding their BWC?
That the BWC has a fully charged battery and is functioning properly.
When must officers notify a supervisor regarding their BWC?
When they become aware of a malfunction or damage to the BWC system or any component.
Under what conditions may plainclothes officers use their BWC?
During planned enforcement activities and when police action is anticipated.
In which locations are officers not permitted to use their BWCs?
Inside detention facilities and during informal, non-enforcement-related contact with the public.
When is BWC activation required?
During involvement in or observation of police actions, calls for service, officer-initiated activities, and adversarial citizen contacts.
What should officers do if a citizen requests them to stop recording?
They may deactivate the BWC if the citizen has standing and the officer has entered the premises on consent.
How should officers document BWC footage in reports?
By writing ‘BWC footage available’ in the first line of narratives.
What are the uploading exceptions for BWC footage?
Specialized units operating on call may have up to 96 hours to upload; otherwise, footage must be uploaded by the end of each shift.
What are supervisors responsible for regarding BWC usage?
Ensuring officers use BWCs in accordance with policy, managing malfunctions, and overseeing uploads.
What access do officers have to their own BWC recordings?
To assist in completing investigations, refresh memory before court, and prepare statements for internal investigations.
What should citizens do if they wish to view BWC footage?
Submit a request electronically via the Public Records Request portal.
True or False: Officers can allow citizens to review BWC footage in the field.
False.
What must be noted when a supervisor accesses BWC footage?
The specific video reviewed and the reason for the review.
How can citizens request to view BWC footage?
Submit a request electronically via the Public Records Request portal at lvmpd.com
This process ensures that requests are handled systematically.
For what purposes can supervisors access BWC footage?
Investigative purposes such as:
* Complaints
* Uses of force
* Vehicle pursuits
* Allegations of misconduct
Access is outlined in department policy.
What must a supervisor document when accessing BWC footage?
The specific video reviewed and the reason for the review in Evidence.com
This documentation is crucial for accountability.
What is the protocol when a supervisor opens a Statement of Complaint (SOC)?
Documentation will be within the SOC itself rather than in Evidence.com
This is especially important if the SOC needs to be kept confidential.
What should supervisors do upon receiving a complaint that may have BWC footage?
- Handle complaints per LVMPD 8.330
- Interview the complainant before reviewing BWC footage
- Access footage on scene
- Not record the subject or witness officer
- Document findings in the SOC or Blue Team
- Notify IAB if probable cause is established
Each step is designed to ensure thorough and fair investigation.
True or False: Supervisors can review BWC footage in the presence of the complainant.
False
This policy is in place to maintain the integrity of the investigation.
What is the role of the Internal Affairs Bureau (IAB) regarding BWC footage?
IAB personnel can access BWC footage for internal investigations and allow citizens to view footage as part of an investigation
This ensures transparency and accountability.
What is the purpose of the BWC Activation Performance Rate (APR) Summary Report?
To verify compliance with department policy
This report helps in identifying and addressing compliance issues.
What are the retention periods for BWC footage based on different dispositions?
- A/D: 10 years
- B/E: 5 years
- K: 2 years
- C/L/P/Q/T/Z: 1 year
- F/G/H/I/J/M/O/R/S: 1 year
Retention periods vary based on the nature of the incident.
Fill in the blank: BWC recordings that are not labeled or associated with an enforcement action will be deleted after _______.
90 days
This policy helps manage storage and maintain relevant records.
What must department members not do with BWC recordings?
Download, disseminate, copy, or record BWC recordings without express written consent from OGC
This ensures data security and compliance with regulations.
What happens if an officer falls below the established compliance rate?
A mandatory compliance audit will be triggered
This audit involves reviewing compliance reports and videos to address performance issues.
Who is responsible for maintaining BWC equipment and managing data in Evidence.com?
The Systems Administration Unit (SAU)
They ensure proper functioning and organization of BWC equipment.
True or False: Officers can view BWC footage before a scene walkthrough.
True
Involved or witness officers may view their own footage prior to making statements.
