For the Milwaukee Police Department and Fire and Police Commission
Chapter 5
Use of Force and Deadly Force Practices
Finding 26
MPD policy states that "members with a body worn camera (BWC) shall make every effort to activate their BWC for all investigative or enforcement contacts," allowing for discretion when the capture of video is critical.
MPD should update Department policy and use the more directed language for these BWC's, similar to what is used for the MVDR's which mandates officers "shall record".
The department's current Body Worn Camera (BWC) SOP requires a member who is assigned a BWC to wear it at all times when on-duty, in uniform, and performing or likely to perform enforcement duties. Officers are to activate their BWCs for all investigative or enforcement contacts and must start recording as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.
MPD agrees that this SOP can be updated to include the language “shall record.” Currently the department is evaluating and updating our SOP in order to update it to fit with law enforcement best practices. Among other changes, the updated SOP will remove any language giving the perception that officers have discretion in determining the situations in which their cameras must be activated outside of specific concerns raised by crime victims and other sensitive encounters. The department's Inspections Division has begun conducting random weekly audits to verify officers are complying with the current SOP.
* Email or Phone:
Body-Worn Cameras. Cameras (such as body-worn cameras) should be turned on for effective accountability purposes as soon as an officer exits the patrol car, or whenever there is interaction with the public, during the early stages of all encounters, except when the interaction involves serious sexual violence, dealing with informants, or when tactically impossible.