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6.D. - Page 45 of 179 <br />• the need for training officers in the use of this equipment in the field, the processing of <br />the information it gathers, the supervision of the performance of the officers in using the <br />equipment, and the updating of police procedures to reflect changes in law, policies and <br />best practices. <br />On the whole, the Committee agrees with the recommended changes to Policy 450 presented <br />toils. <br />During the Committee's discussion about the proposed changes to Policy 450 we focused on <br />several questions: <br />1. When should the recorder be turned on? <br />2. Under what circumstances should the recorder be turned off? <br />3. What recordings should be retained? <br />4. How long should recordings be retained? <br />5. How can policies and procedures rernain current in such a rapidly changing <br />environment? <br />5. How will the MPPD be able to keep up with the pace of technological innovation; data <br />storage needs, network security, and backup/redundancy requirements? <br />It is important to nate that some of the suggestions discussed within the Committee may more <br />properly be addressed in the area of MPPD Procedures rather than Policy 450 itself. <br />1- When should the recorder be turned on? <br />The Committee agrees with the proposed language in 450.5; that the device be activated "prior <br />to arriving at any in -progress or serious or high priority calls for service." <br />To turn cameras on and leave them on during the entire shift of the police officers presents <br />logistical challenges and also presents significant privacy concerns for the officers as <br />employees of the MPPD. The Committee sees no compelling reason to require cameras to <br />always be on. However, cameras should remain on until such time as the officer is no longer <br />involved with the "involved parties" in the incident. <br />As a best practice, the Committee recornmends that the officer provide a voice narration or <br />verbal note upon activating the recorder. <br />2- When should the recorder be turned off? <br />Policy 454.3 states that the recorder ca.n be turned off during "significant periods of inactivity <br />such as report writing or other breaks from direct participation in the incident. or when speaking <br />to other members [police officers] outside the presence of involved parties to the incident." This <br />seems reasonable to us. <br />As a best practice, we recommend that the officer provide a voice narration or verbal note upon <br />turning off the recorder, noting why the recorder is being turned off. <br />2of6 <br />2015-2016 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury 41 <br />