Number
180379
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. RAINEY
Title
Resolution relating to police body-worn camera video and audio data.
Analysis
This resolution urges the Fire and Police Commission to adopt a policy to explicitly prohibit the alteration, by editing, of police body-worn camera audio and video data.
Body
Whereas, Members of the Milwaukee Police Department are using department-issued body-worn cameras to document law enforcement actions as they occur; and
Whereas, The Chief of Police has issued General Order 2016-34, effective July, 15, 2016, also known as Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 747 - Body-Worn Cameras (BWC); and
Whereas, The Standard Operating Procedure states that “the video cannot be altered or modified, but members can tag the video in the field while the video is still stored on the camera,” (SOP 747.10); and
Whereas, The SOP further states that “upon completion of the assigned member’s shift, all captured data will be preserved in a secure recording storage location. Upon capture, these recordings are protected with multiple layers of encryption and cannot be altered” (SOP 747.15); and
Whereas, The SOP’s “Operational Guidelines” section states that, “The recorded data is considered to be impounded once uploaded” (SOP 747.25-G-4); and
Whereas, Standard Operating Procedures may be changed at the discretion of the Chief of Police; and
Whereas, Under s. 62.50, Wis. Stats., the Fire and Police Commission has authority over the Chief of Police; and
Whereas, It is in the best interest of the City, its police officers, and its residents to explicitly declare that police officers and other Police Department members are expressly prohibited from altering body-worn camera data, including audio and video data; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners is urged to adopt a written policy that expressly prohibits the alteration, by editing,...
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