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1. Is your Body-Worn Camera Policy publicly available?

Yes. The policy is posted on our website.

General Order: Digital Body Cameras

2. Who is issued body cameras?

Every officer is issued a camera except for Command Staff.

3. How many cameras will the Brentwood Police Department deploy?

The Brentwood Police Department will deploy 25 cameras.

4. When are the body-worn cameras (BWC) turned on?

Brentwood Police Department’s Body-Worn Camera Policy details a series of situations for which a BWC should be activated. Essentially, the BWC will be activated for all law enforcement functions.

General Order: Digital Body Cameras

5. Why can't a BWC continuously record an entire shift?

Officers perform a multitude of tasks throughout their shift. Much of that involves administrative duties such as report writing and directed patrol. Throughout the officer’s shift, there are instances where the officer may have an expectation of privacy (restroom break, lunch break, phone call). Continuously recording during the officer’s 12-hour shift would stress the system and drain network resources (such as video management and storage space).

6. Where will the BWC video be stored?

Body-worn camera video will be stored on premises on a secure server located within the Brentwood Ppolice Department.

7. How long is the BWC video kept?

All BWC-captured recordings not scheduled for court proceedings, litigation, active investigations, or departmental uses shall be maintained for 30 days in accordance with Missouri Police Clerks’ Records Retention Schedule.

Missouri Police Clerks' Records Retention Schedule

8. Does the officer have to tell me when I'm being recorded?

Officers are not obligated to announce if they have activated their body-worn camera.

9. What if I don't want to be recorded?

This depends on the situation. There may be times when an individual may not wish to be recorded, especially in locations where they may have an expectation of privacy (such as a residence). If the officer feels that stopping the recording will not in any way hamper the investigation, then the officer may choose to turn off the BWC. Howerver, officers are not obligated to stop the recording of incidents involving an investigation, lawful search, arrest, or other circumstances that clearly dictate that continued recording is necessary.

10. Can an officer record inside my home?

Yes. However, in locations where individuals may have a reasonable expectation of privacy (such as a residence), individuals may request that the officer refrain from recording them. Officers will evaluate each situation and, when an officer deems it appropriate, may honor the individual’s request.

11. Will interviews with witnesses and victims be recorded?

It depends on the situation. Individuals may request that an officer not record them. Officers will evaluate each situation and, when an officer deems it appropriate, may honor the individual’s request.

12. Will officers use BWCs to record casual conversations involving community members?

Generally, no. The Brentwood Police Department’s primary use of the cameras will be in situations when officers are responding to calls for service and during law enforcement functions, such as traffic stops, arrests, searches, interviews and pursuits.

13. Why shouldn't all video recorded by police be available to the public?

Requests for video are subject to the Missouri Sunshine Law.

Additionally, one of the most critical issues for people interacting with the police is privacy. Individuals often desire to seek police assistance when they are going through difficult personal challenges. Some individuals have strong specific privacy protections, particularly juveniles. Victims also have privacy protections in the law. 

Missouri Sunshine Law

14. What are the limitations of Body-Worn Cameras?

While BWCs can be a useful tool and can provide a unique perspective on police encounters, there are limitations, including:

• The camera cannot capture what happened outside of the camera’s view or potentially the causation for actions shown, depending on the camera’s perspective and breadth of view. How the camera is mounted and the angle at which the camera is mounted affect the perception of what is seen (officer, suspect, witness, victim perspectives).
• The camera cannot record some important danger cues (such as smells, tensing of muscles, increased pulse rate, physical resistance).
• The night vision component of the camera can see far better than the human eye.
• Camera speed differs from the speed of life.
• An officer’s body may unintentionally block the view of the camera.

15. Who can I contact if I have questions about the Brentwood Police Department's Body-Worn Camera (BWC) program?

Please contact Major James McIntyre or Major Angela Hawkins.