BWC's Flashcards
How often should each Body-Worn Camera be docked for necessary updates?
At least once every 14 days.
What actions should employees take if their Body-Worn Camera malfunctions during a shift?
They should immediately notify their supervisor and take prompt actions to obtain a fully operational BWC.
Who is authorized to access BWC recordings to ensure legitimate use?
Access is audited as directed by the Chief of Police or designee.
What should employees do if a part of their BWC equipment is lost, stolen, or damaged?
They must immediately notify their supervisor and forward a memorandum detailing the circumstances by the end of the next shift.
How should employees document that a BWC recording was made in associated reports?
By notating one of the following: ‘No BWC present’, ‘BWC present- not activated’, ‘BWC present- activated- not reviewed’, ‘BWC present- activated- reviewed’.
What is the status of BWC recordings as per the Lexington Police Department?
All data recorded or produced by the BWC equipment is designated as the sole property of the Lexington Police Department.
What are employees prohibited from doing with BWC recordings without proper approval?
Reviewing, accessing, editing, altering, erasing, duplicating, copying, sharing, uploading/downloading, or releasing BWC recordings for personal or non-law enforcement related purposes.
How should employees handle their BWC equipment when not in use?
Employees should secure vehicles per current training and department procedures when they are not in use.
When should employees place their Body-Worn Camera (BWC) in buffering mode?
When they are likely to have official contact (e.g., leaving a department owned building).
In what situations should employees place their BWC in event mode?
Prior to arrival on a call for service or any other official contact (e.g., detentions, arrests).
Are employees required to inform individuals that they are being recorded?
No, unless agitating an individual or creating a safety issue.
What should employees do if unable to activate their BWC in certain circumstances?
Activate it at the first reasonable opportunity once the immediate situation is over.
How should employees handle a situation where they believe a BWC recording would be beneficial, but they don’t have a BWC?
They are encouraged to request an employee with a BWC.
When should employees dock their BWC into a designated docking station?
At the beginning of their next shift or within 3 days, sooner if critical information is recorded.
Who instructs employees on the use of BWCs at large-scale and special events?
The incident commander, or employees follow the standards in the policy if no commander is appointed.
How should employees handle failing to record the entirety of their involvement in official contact?
They should verbally notify their supervisor and include details on appropriate documents.
Are employees allowed to intentionally fail to record or obstruct the view of their BWC?
No, except in situations outlined in the policy.
What mode should BWCs remain in until the incident that required their activation has concluded?
Event mode.
When should a supervisor prepare a report if an officer is involved in a vehicle pursuit?
- If the officer is a participant in a vehicle pursuit as a primary or secondary unit.
In what situations should a supervisor prepare a report related to an officer’s injury or claim of injury to a prisoner?
When the officer is involved in the injury of a prisoner or any other person.
What is the supervisor’s responsibility regarding report preparation when an officer is injured during duty?
The supervisor should include injury during duty in the report preparation process.
Under what circumstances should a supervisor prepare a report for a civilian employee using a BWC?
- When the employee is involved in a critical incident.
What is the step to be taken for BWC recordings involving civilian employees in critical incidents?
Ensure adding the category ‘08-Critical Incident/Response to Resistance’ to all recordings.
Why should the category ‘08-Critical Incident/Response to Resistance’ be added to BWC recordings?
To clearly identify recordings involving critical incidents or response to resistance situations.
How often should supervisors randomly audit BWC recordings?
On a routine basis.
What is the purpose of routine audits of BWC recordings by supervisors?
To verify compliance with activation and recording standards and assess employee performance.
What is the supervisor’s role if an employee fails to activate their BWC for an official event?
The supervisor should evaluate the need for career development components.
What action should be taken if an employee fails to activate their BWC during an incident?
The supervisor should initiate remedial training or other appropriate procedures.
How should an employee handle accidental activation of their BWC?
An employee should title the recording ‘Accidental Activation’ and set the category to ‘01-Non-Evidentiary.’
What specifically addresses procedures for video and audio evidence in DUI cases?
KRS 189A.100 addresses procedures for securing, reviewing, maintaining, and destroying evidence in DUI cases.
What are the supervisory responsibilities regarding BWCs?
Supervisors must ensure proper wear, utilization, maintenance of BWCs, and monitor BWC activations.
What should a supervisor do if an employee has malfunctioning BWC equipment?
The supervisor should ensure the employee follows procedures, documents reasons for lack of recordings, and monitors the situation.
What should supervisors do if any part of the employee’s BWC equipment is lost, stolen, or damaged?
Supervisors must ensure proper reporting procedures are completed regarding any loss, theft, or damage of BWC equipment.
In what situations should supervisors review the BWC recordings of employees under their direct supervision?
Supervisors should review BWC recordings as part of investigating complaints, employee misconduct, use of force, and critical incidents.
When should employees verbally state their reason to interrupt recording?
Once the scene is secured and employees are not in contact with the public.
List examples of situations where employees should not use BWCs.
Non-official contacts, safety concerns, private settings, etc.
What should employees do at an officer-involved shooting scene with their BWCs?
Leave BWCs activated until directed otherwise by a supervisor.
Describe the BWC recording process during strip searches.
Record the location first, then audio only during the strip search.
What areas should employees not record unless engaged in official contact?
Locker rooms, restrooms, medical examination spaces, etc.
In what scenarios are officers assigned to Guard Duty not required to use Event Mode on their BWCs?
Outside a prisoner’s hospital room or inside without official contacts.
When are Forensic Services Unit members not mandated to have their BWC in Event Mode?
When using other department equipment for evidence documentation.
What is the responsibility of employees regarding BWC equipment?
To maintain, use with care, and keep in operational readiness.
Who can view restricted BWC recordings according to the notes?
Authorized employees such as Command Staff, Open Records Unit employees, Body-Worn Camera Administrator, CIS Unit employees, and PIU personnel.
Who has the authority to grant limited access once a BWC recording is categorized as ‘31-Restricted’?
Only the Body-Worn Camera Administrator or the BOA Assistant Chief’s designee.
What must an employee do if they categorize a BWC recording as ‘31-Restricted’ temporarily?
Send written notification through the chain of command to the BOA Assistant Chief’s office.
What are the responsibilities of the BOA Assistant Chief or designee regarding ‘31-Restricted’ BWC recordings?
Prompt review, determination of redactions, retention of original, redaction explanation, categorization, and notifying the employee.
When can an officer or supervisor categorize a BWC recording as ‘31-Restricted’?
During a criminal or administrative investigation if they determine access needs to be restricted.
How can a supervisor request removal of a ‘31-Restricted’ category?
By sending a written request through the chain of command to the BOA Assistant Chief’s office.
In what situation must an employee categorize the recording as ‘31-Restricted’?
If the BWC records child sexual abuse material as per the notes.
When should an employee notify a supervisor of a docking station error?
Prior to the end of the employee’s shift or assignment.
Who is responsible for notifying the body-worn camera administrator of any docking station error?
The supervisor.
What information should employees provide to uniquely identify BWC recordings?
Information on retention category or categories within the current department storage.
When should employees provide information to identify BWC recordings?
Prior to the end of the next shift or within 3 days of the incident.
Under what circumstances can officers view their own BWC recordings?
For legitimate law enforcement purposes, report writing, documentation, or preparation for courtroom presentations.
When should employees not view BWC recordings before making an administrative investigation statement?
When the employee’s actions resulted in an individual’s death or serious physical injury.
Who can view other employees’ BWC recordings for official committee business?
Members of the Critical Incident Review Committee or the Awards and Commendations Committee.
Who has the authority to limit or restrict the viewing of BWC recordings?
The Chief of Police.
What is the purpose of the Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) policy?
To establish guidelines for recording interactions with the public.
Who assigns and tracks the master inventory of BWC equipment?
The Body-Worn Camera Administrator designated by the Chief of Police.
Define Buffering Mode in the context of BWCs.
Continuous video recording without committing data to memory.
When does the BWC commit the previous 30 seconds of video to memory?
When activated to Event Mode.
What is an Official Contact according to the policy?
In-person interactions with the public for safety or investigative reasons.
Who determines the use of BWCs for part-time specialized units?
The commander in charge of the specialized unit’s specific assignment.
In what capacity are employees authorized to use BWCs out of county?
While authorized to work in support of another agency’s operations.
What are Docking Stations used for in relation to BWCs?
To recharge batteries, update firmware, and upload recordings.
What should employees do if additional assistance is needed in selecting BWC recording categories?
Contact a supervisor.
For BWC recordings with evidentiary value, what must be selected to prevent premature disposal?
One of the categories with a manual retention schedule.
Which category should be chosen for BWC recordings involving a DUI investigation?
06-DUI (Manual retention)
When should the ‘Traffic Citation Only’ category be used for BWC recordings?
For traffic stops where only traffic charges were placed and no criminal citations were issued.
What is the retention period for the ‘Traffic Stop - No Citation’ category?
60 days
In what situations should the ‘Homicide’ category be assigned to BWC recordings?
For recordings documenting investigations of homicides.
What is the retention period for the ‘Arrest/Criminal Citation’ category?
Manual retention
When should an officer add the ‘Arrest/Criminal Citation’ category to BWC recordings?
Whenever criminal charges are placed or a criminal complaint is filed in a case.
How should BWC recordings with a manual retention be disposed of?
Using the normal evidence disposal process.
What is the procedure if an employee appears in a BWC recording approved for training?
The employee must be notified and can object in writing to the BOA Assistant Chief’s office.
What are the responsibilities of the Public Integrity Unit regarding BWC recordings?
Conduct random audits and ensure ‘10-Formal Complaint’ category is added to relevant recordings.
How are BWC recordings released as part of an open records request?
They are released by the Open Records Unit in compliance with Kentucky law.
Under what circumstances can the Chief of Police release certain BWC videos to the public?
The Chief may decide to release videos even if not required by law, after consulting relevant parties.
What is the retention period for non-evidentiary BWC recordings?
Minimum of 60 days, unless needed for prolonged investigations or legal proceedings.
What training is required before employees can use BWC equipment?
Employees must complete department-approved training on equipment usage and related policies.
Who should add the category ‘Emergency Response - Never Arrived’ to BWC recordings?
Authorized employees investigating employees driving to a call they were not dispatched to and at which they never arrived.
What category should be added to BWC recordings related to potential pending litigation?
Pending Litigation (Manual retention)
When should the category ‘Redaction’ be added to BWC recordings?
When Open Records Unit employees perform redactions using approved redaction software.
Who should add the category ‘Training’ to BWC recordings approved for use as training tools?
A Training Section employee.
What retention period is assigned to BWC recordings categorized as ‘Basic Training Academy’?
60 days.
Which category should be added to BWC recordings for Taser logs uploaded to the current department storage solution?
CEW Logs (Manual retention)
