DEPARTMENT: Police
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Police Body Worn Cameras Pilot Program
SUMMARY:
Staff briefing regarding the body worn camera pilot program for the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On January 15, 2014, SAPD presented to the Governance Committee information regarding a proposal for a body worn camera pilot program, as well as current technology the department has in place. The Department also briefed the Public Safety Committee about the program during the February 2014 meeting.
Since November 2010, SAPD has installed mobile video and voice recording equipment (COBAN) in 664 patrol vehicles. This equipment has the capability to gather video evidence on offenders as well as improve officer safety and accountability. The purpose of installing this equipment was to ensure officer safety, evidence purposes, and accountability. The San Antonio Airport Police has also adopted and issued body worn cameras department wide this past spring.
Body worn cameras are a relatively new development in policing and the subject of much significance in the law enforcement and civil liberties communities. Various events across the nation have brought this issue to the forefront.
Proponents of body cameras argue that recording police interactions with citizens may help protect police departments from spurious lawsuits, protect citizens from police misconduct, and provide evidentiary support in criminal cases. In September of 2014 the Police Executive Research forum (PERF), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), released their report "Implementing a Body-Worn Camera Program, Recommendations and Lessons Learned". This report outlined and supported the issuance of body worn cameras, including recommendations on operation and policies of body cameras for law enforcement. The report also noted that the American Civi...
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