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Clarksville Police Department - Chief Mark R. PalmerWearable Video Recorders Page 1

CLARKSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT

43.0 WEARABLE VIDEO RECORDERS FEBRUARY 1, 2013

43.1 POLICY

The purpose of this policy is to set forth guidelines for the use, management, storage and retrieval of

audio-visual media recorded by wearable video recorders (WVRs). WVRs will be used to assist

department personnel in the performance of their duties by providing accurate and unbiased recorded

account of an incident. Additionally, to maximize effectiveness of the WVR and maintain integrity of

evidence and related documentation, all personnel assigned the use of the devices will adhere to the

procedures outlined within this policy.

43.1.1 Confidentiality

All recordings, media images and audio are property of the Clarksville Police Department and will not be

copied, released or disseminated in any form or manner outside the parameters of this policy without

expressed written consent of the Chief of Police. Under no circumstances will any member of the

Clarksville Police Department make a personal copy of any recorded event without prior written

permission of the Chief of Police.

43.1.2 Procedure

A. Equipment

Department issued WVRs are intended for official Departmental use only and are not to be

used for frivolous or personal activities. Intentional misuse or abuse of the units will result in

disciplinary action.

1. Officers will use only those WVRs issued and approved by the Clarksville Police Department.

The wearing of personal video recorders is not permitted.

2. The WVRs will be assigned to each officer and that officer will be responsible for it.

B. Officer Responsibility

1.

Prior to beginning a shift, officers will ensure its readiness by conducting an operational

inspection.

a. Any Problems preventing the use of the unit during shift will be reported to the

immediate shift supervisor.

b. Problems that cannot be remedied will be reported to the Assistant Chief of Police

for replacement of equipment.

GENERAL ORDER

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Clarksville Police Department - Chief Mark R. PalmerWearable Video Recorders Page 2

2. Officers will activate the unit to record during each traffic stop, enforcement action or any

call where there might be confrontation between subjects or officers. WVRs can be

activated when an officers feels the situation would warrant it.

3. Officers will download video to the server upon indication that the device is nearing

capacity. Flag or bookmark any video related to a criminal or traffic case that may be

useful to the department for training purposes.

C. Supervisor Responsibility

1. It is incumbent on supervisors to ensure officers utilize WVRs according to policy guidelines.

2. If a complaint is associated with a recorded event, or an officer believes an incident may

generate a complaint, the supervisor will have the officer flag the video for indefinite

retention. If a recorded event is to be used for evidence a burned copy will be placed into

evidence along with a copy placed on the video server.

D. Video Purge

The Clarksville Police Department maintains video recordings for thirty days and then will

perform a purge of WVRs stored video unless flagged or held for training purposes.