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POL-115Police OperationsSOP

Body-Worn Camera

Activation, retention, access, and review.

Draft — awaiting subject-matter-expert sign-off.

This template has been authored from the standards listed below but has not yet been reviewed by a named SME. Do not adopt without review through your authority having jurisdiction.

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Number

POL-115

Version

1.0

Last reviewed

2026-05-01

Next review

2027-05-01

Summary

This policy governs the use of body-worn cameras (BWC) by [AGENCY NAME] officers. It establishes when cameras must be activated, when activation is restricted, how recordings are retained and disclosed, and how the program is audited.

Definitions

Body-Worn Camera (BWC)
An audio-video recording device worn on an officer's uniform and operated by the officer.
Buffering
Pre-event video automatically retained by the BWC when activated — typically 30–60 seconds. Audio may not be captured during buffer.
Tag / Metadata
Categorization applied to BWC video at the end of an event to determine retention period and access controls.

Purpose

To capture an accurate audio-visual record of officer-citizen contacts, supporting accountability, training, criminal prosecution, and public trust — while protecting privacy and ensuring officers can perform their duties safely.

Scope

Applies to all sworn members assigned a BWC and to any [AGENCY NAME] personnel who handle BWC video.

Issuance and Inspection

  • BWC is issued to all uniformed patrol officers, specialty unit officers, and any plainclothes officers as agency policy specifies.
  • Officer inspects BWC at start of shift — charge level, lens, mount, function check.
  • Malfunctioning BWC reported to supervisor immediately; spare equipment issued where available.
  • BWC is to be worn in a position that captures the officer's perspective consistent with manufacturer guidance and agency standards.

When Activation Is Required

  • All enforcement and investigative contacts: traffic stops, pedestrian stops, calls for service, suspicious-person contacts, investigative interviews, arrests.
  • All uses of force.
  • Vehicle pursuits.
  • Searches (consensual, warrant, exigent, incident to arrest).
  • Custodial transports.
  • Crisis intervention and behavioral health calls (subject to sensitivity provisions below).
  • Any contact that becomes adversarial.
  • Whenever an officer reasonably believes recording will support investigative or accountability purposes.

When Activation Is Restricted or Discouraged

  • Inside places of worship, mental health treatment facilities, medical facilities — unless required by an active enforcement situation.
  • Inside private residences during welfare checks, where occupants request the camera be off and the situation does not require recording — at the officer's discretion consistent with this policy.
  • When recording sexual assault victims, child abuse victims, or victims of domestic violence — officers should explain the BWC, obtain consent where state law allows, and deactivate or redact when appropriate.
  • Confidential informant meetings, undercover operations, and tactical pre-operational briefings — per separate policy.
  • Inside locker rooms, restrooms, and similar spaces.
  • Conversations between officers and attorneys, union representatives, peer-support, EAP, and clergy — where the officer is the subject of the conversation.

Notification

Where feasible and not contrary to safety or investigation, officers notify subjects that they are being recorded. In two-party-consent states, officers comply with state recording statutes; agency operates BWC pursuant to express statutory authority.

Deactivation

  • BWC may be deactivated when the operational need has ended (subject in custody, scene cleared, transport complete) — officer states the reason on camera before deactivating.
  • An officer shall not deactivate BWC during an active use-of-force event, pursuit, or other reportable event.
  • Failure to record a reportable event requires documentation of the reason.

Upload and Tagging

  1. Officers upload BWC video to the agency repository before going off duty.
  2. Each video is tagged with the appropriate retention category (criminal, civil, administrative, training, evidence, citizen contact, non-event).
  3. Officers do not edit, alter, copy, or share BWC video. Any operational copy is made via the digital evidence management system.

Retention

  • Non-event recordings retained for the minimum required by agency policy (e.g., 30–90 days).
  • Reportable force, complaints, pursuits, and evidence-relevant video retained per case-type schedule, subject to ongoing litigation holds.
  • Critical incidents (officer-involved shootings, in-custody death, serious bodily injury) retained permanently or per statute.
  • Retention is not shortened to suppress accountability or in anticipation of records requests.

Access and Review

Officer Self-Review

  • Officers may review their own BWC video for routine report writing before the report is submitted, except as restricted below.
  • For officer-involved shootings and significant uses of force, officer review of BWC video before initial statement is determined by the Critical Incident Response policy and applicable law.
  • Officers do not review video of other officers' interactions without supervisor authorization, except as required for assigned duties.

Supervisor Review

  • Supervisors review BWC video of any reportable use of force, complaint, pursuit, or as part of random program audit.
  • Random audits — minimum 1 video per officer per quarter — are documented; coaching, training, or commendation result.
  • Supervisor reviews do not constitute discipline; discipline results from policy violations identified through investigation.

Public Disclosure

  • BWC video subject to disclosure per state public records law and discovery rules.
  • Subject identifiable information redacted where required.
  • Critical incident video disclosed per agency timelines and state law — recognizing competing interests in transparency, investigation integrity, and privacy.

Privacy

  • Victims, juveniles, witnesses, and uninvolved parties have privacy interests recognized in this policy.
  • Officers do not record gratuitously and tag sensitive content for restricted disclosure.
  • Video shall not be used for harassment, voyeurism, or any purpose unrelated to law-enforcement duties.

Audit and Reporting

  • Random program audit by Professional Standards monthly.
  • Annual public report includes activation rates, complaint outcomes, training improvements identified through BWC review.
  • Patterns of non-activation are investigated as potential misconduct.

Training

  • Initial BWC training at issuance.
  • Annual refresher and policy update.
  • Supervisor training in BWC review at promotion.
  • Scenario-based training including activation discipline.

Discipline

Repeated or willful failure to activate BWC for reportable events, alteration of video, or unauthorized disclosure are addressed under the agency discipline policy and may constitute criminal conduct.

References

  • IACP Model Policy on Body-Worn Camerasiacp.org
  • CALEA Standards 41.3.8calea.org
  • PERF Body-Worn Camera Implementation Guidepoliceforum.org
  • DOJ COPS BWC Resourcescops.usdoj.gov
  • State BWC Statute[INSERT STATE]

Adapt this template

Before this template becomes your department's policy, review the following items and adjust accordingly. Anything else that does not match your operation should be updated as well.

  • DRAFT — Requires legal review and SME sign-off before publication or adoption.
  • Reconcile sensitive-content disclosure with state public-records law.
  • Set retention schedules to meet state minimums and litigation holds.
  • Identify the digital evidence management system used.
  • Cross-reference Use of Force, Vehicle Pursuit, and Response to Resistance Reporting policies.

Adoption signature

Adopted by (Name, Rank)
Signature
Effective date
Next scheduled review

Before adoption checklist

  • ☐Replace [DEPARTMENT NAME] throughout the document.
  • ☐Complete every [BRACKETED] placeholder.
  • ☐Confirm the current edition of every cited standard.
  • ☐Check against your state statutes and state fire marshal rules.
  • ☐Route for chief review. Topics with significant exposure (use of force, medical scope) also go through qualified counsel.
  • ☐Confirm alignment with any mutual-aid agreements.
  • ☐Schedule a training plan for the new policy before effective date.
  • ☐Announce adoption in writing to all members. Archive the prior version.
  • ☐Set the next review date — annually at minimum.