Mobile Audio/Video Recording Equipment

Policy and Procedure Number PP 08-0075

A Training Presentation of the Brunswick Hills Police

Department

Policy Mobile Audio/Video Recording (MVR)

equipment has been installed in designated Brunswick Hills police vehicles for the purpose of documenting activity relating to roadside citizen contacts, arrest transportation, evidence documentation and other situations deemed appropriate by the officer.

The operation of Audio/Video Recording equipment will be the responsibility of the officer operating the vehicle.

Policy It is the policy of the Brunswick Hills Police

Department that the Mobile Audio/Video recorder may be used as a tool to protect an officer against allegations of improper conduct that may be made by a citizen.

It is the policy of the Brunswick Hills Police Department that the Mobile Audio/Video Recorder shall be used as a tool to conduct after action reviews of incidents for the purposes of training and reviewing procedures and methods with the goal of improving them.

Procedure - General The Department Training Officer, through

the Field Training Officers, shall ensure that all officers receive training in the use of MVR equipment. Only those officers who have been trained in MVR use and operation shall use it. This training will include unit set up procedures, testing of equipment and operation during patrol. This training will be documented in the officer's training record.

Procedure - GeneralOperating procedures for patrol personnel:1. Prior to each shift:

a. Determine that the MVR equipment is working properly.b. If needed, insert the tape in the recording unit located in the vehicle trunk. Note: Only department approved and issued tapes will be used.c. Check camera position, aim and focus.d. Camera aim can be verified by checking the unit's monitor.

Procedure - GeneralOperating procedures for patrol personnel:1. Prior to each shift:

e. Attach the wireless microphone to your gun belt.f. Depress the remote activation feature on the face of the unit to allow for activation of the unit by the wireless microphone.g. Advise Patrol Supervisor and document on Daily Activity Log any malfunctions or service required.h. Officers shall never attempt any repair on MVR equipment that would require going into the internal parts of the unit.

Procedure - General2. During each shift:

a. Use the MVR to record all traffic stops and otherpolice/citizen interactions in their entirety.b. Activate MVR equipment by:1. Activating the vehicle emergency lights; or2. Manually depressing the "record" button on the unit console; or3. Manually depressing the "remote" button on the unit console and activating the wireless microphone attached to the officer's gun belt.

Procedure - General2. During each shift:

c. Ensure MVR equipment is functioning properly.d. Ensure the audio is turned on and set to an adequate level to record conversations and interactions.e. The MVR is also equipped with an in-vehicle microphone which will record all conversations within the vehicle.f. Before exiting the vehicle on traffic stop, activate the camera zoom feature to record the license plate of the target vehicle.

Procedure - General2. During each shift:

g. The camera should zoom in on the license plate and then automatically revert to the wide angle view to record the rest of the traffic stop or police/citizen interaction.h. Do not deactivate the MVR until the conclusion of the traffic stop or police/citizen interaction. Deactivate by depressing the "stop" button. If the MVR was activated by the wireless microphone, ensure the microphone is also switched to the off position.

Procedure - General

2. During each shift:i. Officers should manually activate the MVR to record the driving performance of a motorist that may provide reasonable suspicion for a traffic stop or probable cause for an arrest (OVI, reckless operation, etc.).

Procedure - General

3. Weekly, when tape if full, or when needed for evidence purposes:a. Remove the audio/video tape from the recorder located in the vehicle trunk.b. Ensure the tape label is properly completed, to include date, shift, officer and badge number.

Procedure - General3. Weekly, when tape if full, or when

needed for evidence purposes:c. Place the MVR tape in Patrol Supervisors box for review, or in accordance with departmental procedures, process as evidence, including chain of custody documentation, and place in temporary evidence storage.d. Officers will not erase, alter or tamper with MVR tapes.

Procedure - General3. Weekly, when tape if full, or when needed for

evidence purposes:e. Officers will note in supplemental narrative of reports when audio/video recordings were made of the incident, to include tape identification label information and tape times.f. Officers shall inform those who ask that audio/video recording equipment is in use. Privileged communications in a patrol vehicle will not be monitored or recorded.

Patrol Supervisor Responsibilities1. Ensure that all officers are trained in the

use of MVR equipment and follow established procedures for the use and maintenance of MVR equipment, handling of tapes and the completion of any required MVR documentation.

2. Randomly review tapes to assist in periodic assessment of officer performance and determine whether MVR equipment is being properly used.

Patrol Supervisor Responsibilities

3. Ensure damaged or non functional MVR equipment is reported for repairs.

4. Ensure that the tape heads are cleaned once per month using an approved tape head cleaner.

5. Ensure a sufficient supply of blank tapes is available for patrol personnel and maintained in a controlled supply storage area.

Patrol Supervisor Responsibilities

6. Receive and store tapes, not marked as evidence, for 30 days, then erase and reissue tapes for a maximum of five uses per tape.

7. Complete and update, as required, a tape inventory log book to include date of tape, officer, badge number, shift, number of times tape has been issued and date of erasure.

Tape Control and Management1. All audio/video tapes are the property of the

Brunswick Hills Police Department and are to be used for law enforcement purposes only.

2. MVR tapes containing information that may be of value for case prosecution or any criminal or civil proceedings shall be safeguarded as other forms of evidence and will be subject to the same security and chain of custody.

3. Tapes not marked as evidence will be maintained by the Patrol Supervisor for a minimum of 30 days in a secure manner that ensures efficient identification and retrieval.

Tape Control and Management4. No video tape will be reissued for operational

use unless it has first been completely erased by patrol supervisor, or his/her designee, on department supplied tape eraser.

5. The original tape is to remain in the custody of the Brunswick Hills Police Department at all times.

6. All requests for tape copies by members of the prosecution or judiciary will be provided at no charge.

Tape Control and Management7. Requests for copies of tapes from public

and private concerns will be completed in writing, and approved by the Chief of Police or his/her designee. The requester will pay a fee, established by the department, for duplicating the tape and paid in advance of tape being copied.

8. All tape duplications will be done by this department, on department copying equipment.

Course Conclusion

Thank you for taking this course. Comments should be directed to the Department Training Officer. You may now download the course examination, complete it, enter your answers onto the online answer sheet and submit them.