Title
Consideration of Citizen Petition Related to Transparency Through Body-Worn Cameras
Description
This report provides the City Council with information in response to a citizen petition submitted by Ms. Joanne Scott Woods at the April 3, 2019 Formal City Council meeting regarding law enforcement transparency through body-worn camera footage with officer articulation of 10 citizen rights during the arrest process (Attachment A).
Report
Summary
The petitioner requests the City Council approve a set of 10 factors, referred to in the petition as citizen rights for officers to adhere to during an arrest process while donning their body-worn cameras.
The 10 factors requested by the petitioner do not equate to legal rights and are more in line with policy decisions. The Police Department has a time-tested, robust body-worn camera policy that has been in place since the first body-worn cameras were deployed as part of a pilot program in 2011. This policy, known as Operations Order 4.49, is based on best practices outlined by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance. It is designed to balance police efficiency and work-related needs with legal compliance and respect for the community.
The Police Department has been transparent with the community regarding this policy. It has been available online since the inception of the pilot program and it has been presented to numerous community forums, including all 12 Police Chief Citizen Advisory Boards, as well as the police labor organizations, for review and input.
The Police Department is currently in the process of updating this policy to incorporate recent input from both the community and the police labor organizations to further enhance this policy, and will consider Ms. Woods' input during this process, as well.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Milton Dohoney, Jr. and the Police Department.