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6.D. - Page 23 of 179 <br />APPENDIX A BODY -WORN CAMERA POLICY—ATHERTON POLICE DEPARTMENT <br />Atherton Police Department <br />Policy Manual <br />Portable Audio/Video Recorders <br />450.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE <br />This Department procedure establishes guidelines for Department members using body worn <br />cameras and procedures for preserving the digital media. This procedure applies to all Department <br />members. <br />450.2 BACKGROUND <br />Law enforcement's use of in -car cameras and body worn cameras has proven effective in reducing <br />violent confrontations and complaints against officers. Cameras provide additional documentation <br />of police/public encounters and may be an important tool for collecting evidence and maintaining <br />public trust. There is also a learning curve that comes with using body -worn cameras. Video cannot <br />always show the full story nor does it capture an entire scene. The use of cameras does not reduce <br />the requirement to provide thorough written documentation. Persons reviewing recordings must <br />also be cautious before conclusions are reached about what the video shows. <br />450.3 DEFINITIONS <br />(a) Body Worn Camera (BWC) - A camera worn on an individual officer's person that records <br />and stores audio and video. <br />(b) SWC Program Administrator - Police Department program administrator for BWC camera <br />system with full access to user rights and sets user access and parameters. <br />(c) Digital Evidence - BWC files, including photographs, audio recordings and video footage, <br />captured by a BWC and stored digitally. <br />(d) Metadata - Case numbers, Incident numbers, and other descriptors used to identify digital <br />evidence. <br />450.4 PROCEDURE <br />450.4.1 OFFICER SAFETY <br />Officer Safety takes Precedence over Recording Events. Officers should follow existing officer <br />safety policies when conducting enforcement stops as outlined in Department policies and <br />procedures. Officer safety should be the primary consideration when contacting citizens or <br />conducting vehicle stops, not the ability to record an event. <br />450.4.2 GENERAL <br />(a) Only authorized personnel should use or be in possession of a BWC device. <br />(b) BWC equipment is for official use only and shall not be utilized for personal use. <br />{c} Officers shall not tamper with or dismantle any hardware or software component of any <br />BWC device_ <br />Portable AudioNideo Recorders - 482 <br />Printed Dal©: 2015105116 ***L)RAFT*** <br />0 1995-2015 Laxipol, LLC <br />2015-2016 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury 19 <br />AN <br />