Body Worn
Cameras 1. How long is the BWC field
test? 2. Which cameras are we
testing? 3. Who will wear the cameras?
4. How will the cameras be
evaluated? 5. Will officers be required to
advise the public they are recording? 6. Who can view the footage?
7. What happens to the BWC
file following an OfficerInvolved Incident (OII)
The field test begins the week of July 20th and will run until October. Officers will wear each of the three cameras for a period of 4 weeks (totaling 12 weeks). We are testing the Axon Body by Taser, Axon Flex by Taser and the LE3 by Vie Vu. The cameras have different features and evidence management systems. Approx. fifteen BFO officers have volunteered to wear the cameras for the field test. Eventually, all officers will wear BWC’s. The Dept. is considering BWC’s for Sergeants & Lt’s. End users from BFO, BOI and BTS will complete surveys at the end of each week or following use of the evidence management system. This feedback will be evaluated for the procurement of BWC’s. The policy requires officers to notify private citizens they are recording when entering a private residence based upon consent. Otherwise, officers are strongly encouraged to inform members of the public they’re recording. With the exception of Officer Involved Incidents, officers and supervisors may view the footage for the purposes of report writing, follow-up, courtroom testimony, or for the purposes of an administrative interview. Also, IA may view the files for administrative investigations. (Refer to policy for other authorized viewers.) The file will only be accessible by the investigators tasked with completing the OII investigation. The involved or witness officers will provide an initial statement BEFORE viewing any BWC file. Once the initial statement has been provided, the officer will then view the file with his/her 1