Scot Haug, Post Falls, ID, Police Department, Chief of Police (retired) Rodney Monroe, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, NC, Police Department, Chief of Police (retired) Dan Zehnder, Las Vegas, NV, Metropolitan Police Department, Captain (retired) Jeff Spiess, City of St. Anthony Village, MN, Police Department, Captain
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Webinar is recorded
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Webinar evaluation
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Questions
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Introductions
– Tom Woodmansee, Senior Advisor
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Terminology Overview
- Scot Haug
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What is a Review Program?
- Rodney Monroe
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Overview of Review Programs in Other Departments
-Rodney Monroe
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Conducting Proper BWC Audits-
Dan Zehnder
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Developing a Successful Review Policy and
Terminology Overview
Scot Haug, Post Falls, Idaho, Police Department, Chief of Police
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There is a difference between a compliance check and an
audit, and you need both.
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Compliance
‣ May be referred to as a self-verification
‣ Normally completed by a supervisor
‣ Ensuring policies and procedures are being followed
‣ Are we doing what we said we would do?
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Audit
‣ Looking at the compliance program processes and documentation
‣ Verification that the agency goals and objectives are met
What is a Review Program?
Rodney Monroe, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina,
Police Department, Chief of Police (retired)
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Protects an enormous investment
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Ensures our commitment to our community
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Enhances transparency and accountability
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Helps manage performances
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What are your goals?
‣ Policy ‣ Training ‣ Uploading ‣ Categorizing ‣ Storage ‣ Retention ‣ Reviews ‣ Performance‣
What are you attempting to learn?
‣ Have all officers been properly trained?
‣ Are we following polices?
‣ Are BWCs being activated and deactivated properly?
‣ Are BWCs being uploaded and tagged properly?
‣ Are BWCs being inspected regularly for damage and/or malfunctions?
‣ Do we have training gaps?
‣ Are we following our storage and retention protocols?
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Who should conduct reviews
‣ Officers: Ensure accuracy of their reports
‣ Detectives: Obtain additional evidence on cases, witness/victim statements
‣ Supervisors: Additional training or counseling, use of proper tactics, overall performance
‣ Managers: Ensure supervisors review a cross section of videos
‣ Quality Control Managers: Ensure proper categorizing, uploading, storage, and retention, and proper releasing of video to public
Overview of Review Programs
in Other Departments
Rodney Monroe, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, North Carolina,
Police Department, Chief of Police (retired)
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BJA and CNA have funded and supported over 420
BWC agencies during the past 5 years.
‣ More and more agencies now require supervisor’s reviews.
‣ FY 2015 94%
‣ FY 2016 99%
‣ FY 2017 99%
*Reference: White, M., Flippin, M., & Malm, A., Key Trends in Body-Worn Camera Policy and Practice: A Four Year Policy Analysis of US Department of Justice-Funded Law
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The current trend is placing greater emphasis on:
‣ General performance evaluation
‣ FY 2015 67% agencies gave supervisors that authority
‣ FY 2016 93%
‣ FY 2017 93%
*Reference: White, M., Flippin, M., & Malm, A., Key Trends in Body-Worn Camera
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Review of Recordings
‣ Officers may review recordings from their own assigned body-worn cameras at any time in connection with their official duties.
‣ Command officers may review body-worn camera recordings, at their discretion in support of the goals.
‣ Other sworn or civilian employees may review body-worn camera recordings when necessary to perform their
assigned job functions.
‣ No other review of body-worn camera recordings will be allowed without express written permission of the Chief of Police or his/her designee.
‣ Potential Reasons to Review BWC Recordings
‣ Supervisory Review
‣ Departments authorize supervisors to review relevant recordings when the supervisors review and approve case reports from their subordinates.
‣ Investigatory Review
‣ Departments authorize supervisors to review relevant recordings any time they investigate alleged misconduct or reports of meritorious conduct, or whenever such recordings support review of the member’s performance.
‣ Teaching or Learning Tool
‣ Training staff may also review videos regarding specific incidents in which such files may serve as an internal learning or teaching tool.
‣ Civil Claims and Lawsuits
Conducting Proper BWC
Program Audits
Dan Zehnder, Las Vegas, Nevada, Metropolitan Police Department, Captain (retired)
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What is an Audit?
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Why are they
important?
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Who does them?
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When are they done?
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How are they done?
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What are you looking
for?
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What do you do with
what you find?
Developing a Successful
Review Policy and Program
Jeff Spiess, City of St. Anthony Village, Minnesota, Police
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Verify equipment is working properly
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Ensure officers are using it according to policy
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Identify any training issues
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Praise great officer conduct
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Prepare for the independent biennial audit – per
MN State Statute 13.825(9)
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Supervisor randomly reviews two videos for each
officer on his/her shift.
‣ Indicates whether audio and video were working properly.
‣ Was the equipment utilized according to policy?
‣ Were the officer’s actions professional?
‣ Opportunity to leave comments.
‣ If there is a deviation from policy, the supervisor will watch two additional videos for that officer.
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Individual reports forwarded to the Captain
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Reports compiled and final report forwarded to the
Chief.
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This report contains the number of videos
reviewed, the number that were within policy,
and a brief synopsis of the circumstances
surrounding any videos that were not within
policy.
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We are all human – we strive for 100%
compliance, knowing we will likely not reach
our goal.
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In 2019, our compliance rate was 99%.
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Create an atmosphere of trust and
accountability.
‣ Officers know we are serious about accountability and trust that the system is not used to “target” any individual officer.
‣ FY 2020 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies
‣ https://bja.ojp.gov/funding/opportunities/bja-2020-17732
‣ Closing Date: May 5, 2020
‣ Description
‣ The purpose of this opportunity is to fund the purchase of body-worn cameras (BWC) that are implemented as part of comprehensive BWC programs.
‣ Funding under this program supports agencies seeking to establish or expand comprehensive BWC programs and have specified plans to implement this technology in a manner that maximizes the benefits of BWCs. As part of their submission, applicants must describe a deliberate and phased plan to deploy this technology, as well as specific ways it will be used to enhance the applicant agency’s mission.
