City Wants Your Input On New Body Worn Camera Policy and Procedure

CINCINNATI – After months of seeking feedback and engaging stakeholders, the City of Cincinnati is releasing an administrative policy and set of procedures that will govern the City’s new Body Worn Camera (BWC) program.

This is an important document because this policy will determine how the Cincinnati Police Department will use, manage, store, release and retain BWC video and audio files.

The BWC Policy and Procedure is posted on the City’s website and along with a brief survey. The City asks any interested parties to review the document and provide feedback.

• CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY
• DOWNLOAD THE POLICY & PROCEDURE DOCUMENT
• SURVEY, OTHER BWC RESOURCES POSTED BELOW

“The work is ongoing,” wrote City Manager Harry Black in a memo to Mayor John Cranley and the members of City Council. “Though we have tried to anticipate every possible scenario it is not always possible to address something that may have not occurred. This is why this policy is fluid in nature and will continue to undergo changes and revisions as new lessons are learned.”

• View BWC Presentation
• BWC Program Scorecard from Upturn
• When BWCs Can Be Activated by Officers
• Provide Program Feedback to City

Begun in August 2015, with direction from the Mayor and City Council, the goal of the BWC program is to be transparent and inclusive and to become a national gold standard by including as many stakeholders in the process as possible.

The creation of this policy has been a rigorous undertaking. This public outreach effort has included the Mayor and City Council, Leadership Cincinnati, Citizen’s Complaint Authority (CCA), Community Organizations, Local business leaders, Clergy, National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), Local Judge’s Seminar, City Manager’s Advisory Group (MAG) and the Defense Attorney’s Bar Association.  

“We anticipate this document being updated often based on feedback received and lessons learned,” continued City Manager Black.

“To reiterate, we will maintain this as an adaptable process evolving over time and ultimately leading to improvements wherever necessary.”

The Body Worn Cameras will be deployed in phases beginning in early August with officers in the Central Business District.