DepartmentNoticeD1501

ChicagoPoliceDepartment

BODYWORNCAMERAPILOTPROGRAMPHASE1

ISSUEDATE:
RESCINDS:
INDEXCATEGORY:

I.

30January2015
20January2015Version
DepartmentNotice

EFFECTIVEDATE:

30January2015

PURPOSE

ThisdirectiveintroducestheBodyWornCamera(BWC)PilotProgram.
II.

POLICY

TheDepartmentiscommittedtoprotectingthesafetyandwelfareofthepublicaswellasits
members.RecordingsfromtheBWCcanprovidememberswithaninvaluableinstrumentto
enhancecriminalprosecution.Additionally,theycanprotectmembersfromfalseaccusations
through the objective documentation of interactions between Department members and the
public.MembersissuedaBWCwilluseitpursuanttothisdirective.
III.

EQUIPMENT

Thispilotprogramwillutilizethefollowing:

IV.

V.

A.

Abodyworncamerasystemconsistingofacameraandcontroller/batterypackinone.

B.

A headmounted camera system consisting of a camera with a separate

controller/batterypack.

C.

Evidence.comawebbasedstorageandretrievalsystem.

SCOPE

A.

TheBWCpilotprogramisoperationalforselectmembersinDistrict014.

B.

Thepilotprogramiseffective20January2015.

GENERALINFORMATION

A.

Thepilotprogramwillincludebothvisualandaudiorecording.

B.

There is no expectation of privacy for Department members related to incidents

recordedwithBWCs.Supervisors,membersoftheBureauofInternalAffairs,andthe
Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) investigators may request to review the
digitally recorded data from the BWC system. Any digitally recorded data created by
the BWC system may be used without a Department members permission for any
officialDepartmentalpurpose.

C.

Thesurreptitiousaudiorecordingofaprivateconversationisprohibitedbylaw.

D.

Selected uniformed members will be assigned a specific BWC by serial number that
willbeutilizedbythatmemberforthedurationofthepilotprogram.

VI.

E.

TheBWCismanuallyactivated.Attheconclusionofanincident,Departmentmembers
mustmanuallydisengageallrecordingprocesses.

F.

All recordings require an event number. If unable to obtain an event number when
initiating a recording, the member will obtain one immediately upon disengagement.
Onlyoneeventnumberwillbeobtainedforeachincident.

G.

AlldigitallyrecordeddatacreatedbytheBWCwillberetainedinaccordancewiththe
Department'sFormsRetentionSchedule(CPD11.717).

H.

DepartmentmembersassignedaBWCareauthorizedtoviewtheirownrecordingson
Evidence.comusingtheiruniqueuseraccesscredentialsfromaDepartmentcomputer
ataDepartmentfacility.Departmentmembersareremindednottosharetheirunique
accesscredentialswithotherusers.AllEvidence.comaccessistracked.

I.

Department supervisors are authorized to view all recordings on Evidence.com using

their unique user access credentials from a Department computer at a Department
facility.Departmentmembersareremindednottosharetheiruniqueaccesscredentials
with other users. All Evidence.com access is tracked. Members needing to access a
recordingthatisnottheirownwillrequesttodosothroughtheirimmediatesupervisor,
whowillevaluatetherequestandallowtheofficertoviewtherecordingifappropriate.

J.

In general, minor infractions and minor deviations from Department policy observed
through the review of digitally recorded data will not be subject to the disciplinary
processandwillbetreatedasatrainingopportunity.

K.

Ifamemberinthepilotprogramisinavehicleequippedwithanincarvideosystem,
thememberwillfollowboththeInCarVideoSystemsdirectiveandthisdirective.

RECORDINGGUIDELINES

A.

Department members will use only Departmentissued video/audio recording

equipment.

B.

Upon initiating the recording, Department members will announce to the individual(s)
thattheyarebeingrecorded.

EXAMPLE:

C.

D.

"Thepolicecameraisoperatingandyouarebeingaudiblyand
visuallyrecorded."

Departmentmembersarepermittedtorecordindividuals:
1.

iftheyareonthepublicwayorinpublicview

2.

in private residences or in other places where a reasonable expectation of

privacyexistsandthereisalawfulreasonforthepresenceoflawenforcement
officers

3.

duringroutinecallsforservice.

DepartmentmembersassignedaBWCwill:
1.

ensureitison"buffering"modeduringtheirtourofduty.

2.

activatethesystemto"event"modetorecordanentireonsceneincident.

NOTE:

E.

Wheninbufferingmode,thecameracapturesvideoonlynoaudiois
capturedandthevideoisnotrecordedtopermanentmemory.When
the event mode is activated, the previous 30 seconds of captured
video is recorded to permanent memory and the audio feature is
initiated.

Department members assigned a BWC will activate the system to event mode to
recordtheentireincidentforall:
1.

routinecallsforservice

2.

investigatorystops

3.

trafficstops

4.

footandvehiclepursuits

5.

emergencydrivingsituations

6.

emergencyvehicleresponsestoinprogressorjustoccurreddispatcheswhere
fleeingsuspectsorvehiclesmaybecapturedonvideoleavingthecrimescene

7.

highrisksituations,includingsearchwarrants

8.

situationsthatmayenhancetheprobabilityofevidencebasedprosecution

NOTE:

9.

NOTE:

Ifvictimsofincidentsthataresensitiveinnaturerequestnot
toberecorded,thememberwillcomplywiththerequestand
disengagetheBWCconsistentwithitemVIGNOTEofthis
directive.

situationsthatthemember,throughtrainingandexperience,believestoserve
a proper police purpose, for example, recording the processing of an
uncooperativearrestee.

Sworn members will not unreasonably endanger themselves or

anotherpersontoconformtotheprovisionsofthisdirective.

F.

Department members are reminded to follow the directive Interrogations: Field and
Custodialwhenconductinginterrogations.

G.

Duringtherecordingofanincident,DepartmentmemberswillnotdisengagetheBWC
untiltheentireincidenthasbeenrecordedorwhenfurtherrecordingoftheincidentwill
notserveaproperpolicepurpose.Intheeventofanarrest,theincidentisconcluded
whenthesubjectistransportedtothedistrictstation.

NOTE:

H.

Department members will verbally state the justification of any

disengagementoftheBWCsystempriortotheentireincidentbeing
recorded before disengaging the BWC. Upon disengagement, the
Department member will notify their immediate supervisor.
Additionallyifacasereportiscompleted,thememberwilldocument
thejustificationinthenarrativeportionofthereport.

ProhibitedRecordings
TheBWCwillnotbeusedtorecord:

1.

inlocationswhereareasonableexpectationofprivacyexists,suchasdressing
roomsorrestrooms,unlessrequiredforcapturingevidence.

2.

sensitive exposures of private body parts, unless required for capturing

evidence.

3.

personal activities or other Department members during routine, non

enforcementrelatedactivities.

4.

inside medical facilities, except when a situation arises that the member
believestoserveaproperpolicepurpose.

NOTE:

VII.

Members will be aware of patient privacy rights when in

hospital settings and follow the procedures consistent with
item VIGNOTE of this directive when disengaging the
BWC.

OPERATIONALPROCEDURES

A.

Departmentmemberswill:
1.

atthebeginningofthetourofduty:
a.

signout their assigned BWC on the Personal Equipment Log (CPD

21.919)fromthedesignatedDepartmentmember

b.

visually and physically inspect the BWC and ensure that it is fully
chargedandoperational

c.

ensuretheBWCissecurelyattachedtothememberspersonand

d.

ensuretheBWCisonbufferingmodepriortoleavingthestation.

NOTE:

2.

3.

Memberswillimmediatelynotifyasupervisorif,atanytime,
theBWCismissing,lost,inoperable,ordamaged.

duringthetourofduty:
a.

recordeventsconsistentwiththisdirective.

b.

annotate all reports, including Contact Information Cards (CPD

21.101), prepared for an event which has been recorded by listing
BWCRecordedIncident."

c.

if seeking approval of felony charges through the Assistant State's

Attorney Felony Review Unit, inform the ASA that the incident was
recordedusingaBWC.

attheconclusionofatourofduty:
a.

return the BWC to the designated Department member who will

ensureitisplacedinanopenslotonthedockingstationforuploading
ofcapturedmediaandchargingofthepowerunitand

b.

signintheBWConthePersonalEquipmentLog.

B.

Sergeants assigned to supervise Department members using a Departmentissued

BWCwillensure:
1.

DepartmentmembersareusingtheBWCconsistentwiththisdirective.

2.

the Help Desk is contacted and a ticket number is obtained whenever any
memberisunabletousetheBWCordownloaddigitallyrecordeddatadueto
technicalproblems.

3.

aninvestigationisinitiatedwhennotifiedofamissing,lost,ordamagedBWC.

NOTE:

C.

D.

VIII.

ActionstakenregardingitemsVIIB2and3willbedocumentedon
theSupervisor'sManagementLog(CPD11.455).

Districtstationsupervisorswillensure:
1.

allavailableBWCsarefullyutilized.

2.

thedistribution,charging,anduploadingoftheBWCsareconsistentwiththis
directive.

3.

thedailyassignmentrostersenttoOEMCandenteredinthePCADidentifies
memberswhoareissuedaBWCbyplacingtheletterKnexttothemembers
names.

Thewatchoperationslieutenant(WOL)willensure:
1.

each video has an OEMC event number associated with it by reviewing the
datafromthepreviousday.

2.

digitally recorded data is properly downloaded by randomly reviewing the

downloadedrecordingsonEvidence.com.

VIEWINGDIGITALLYRECORDEDDATA

All digitally recorded data created with the BWC are the property of the Chicago Police
Department. Dissemination of any digitally recorded data outside the Department is
strictly prohibited without specific authorization by the Superintendent or an
appointeddesignee.
A.

TheInformationServicesDivision(ISD)willensure:
1.

all authorized Department members have access to the Evidence.com

database.

2.

any nondepartmental agencies with authorization to view digitally recorded

datastoredonEvidence.comhasaccess.

NOTE:

B.

Unauthorized duplicating, capturing, or disseminating of audio or

video from BWC footage is strictly prohibited. For example,
DepartmentmembersareauthorizedtoviewtheirownBWCfootage
onaDepartmentworkstationbutmaynotrecordthisfootagewitha
cellphone,camera,orothermethod.

IfthedigitallyrecordeddatarequiresviewingbeforeitisuploadedtoEvidence.com:

IX.

1.

the BWC in question will be taken to the district station from which it was
issuedand

2.

the district station supervisor will contact ISD for advice on accessing the
recording.

EVALUATION

A.

B.

C.

D.

Watchoperationslieutenantsonaweeklybasiswill:
1.

randomlyreviewthevideorecordingsforthedurationofthepilotprogram.

2.

submitareporttothedistrictexecutiveofficerregardingtheirobservationsand
recommendationsfortheuseoftheBWCs.

Thedistrictexecutiveofficerwill:
1.

reviewthereportssubmittedbytheWOLand

2.

submitareportthroughthechainofcommandregardingrecommendationsto
theChief,BureauofPatrol,ATTN:BWCPilotProgramEvaluationCommittee,
attheconclusionofeachpoliceperiod.

The BWC Pilot Program Evaluation Committee will be composed of the following
members:
1.

Chief,BureauofPatrol,whowillserveaschairperson

2.

Chief,OfficeofCrimeControlStrategies

3.

GeneralCounsel,OfficeofLegalAffairs

4.

DeputyChief,EducationandTrainingDivision

5.

Commander,InformationServicesDivision

6.

Director,ResearchandDevelopmentDivision

7.

Director,GeneralSupportDivision

8.

Districtcommanderofthepilotdistrict.

ResponsibilitiesoftheBWCPilotProgramEvaluationCommittee
1.

Throughout the course of the pilot program, meet as needed to evaluate the
effectiveness of the program and determine if it should be continued,
expanded,modified,orterminated.

2.

Attheconclusionofthepilotprogram,prepareareporttotheSuperintendent
providing the results of the evaluation and a recommendation to continue,
expand,modify,orterminatetheprogram.

(Itemsindicatedbyitalic/doubleunderlinewereaddedorrevised)

GarryF.McCarthy
SuperintendentofPolice
T15022CMF
GLOSSARYTERMS:
1.

SurreptitiousObtainedormadebystealthordeception,orexecutedthroughsecrecy
orconcealment(720ILCS5/141).

2.

PrivateConversationAnyoralcommunicationbetweentwoormorepersons,whether
inpersonortransmittedbetweenthepartiesbywireorothermeans,whenoneormore
ofthepartiesintendedthecommunicationtobeofaprivatenatureunder
circumstancesreasonablyjustifyingthatexpectation.Areasonableexpectationshall
includeanyexpectationrecognizedbylaw,including,butnotlimited,toanexpectation
derivedfromaprivilege,immunity,orrightestablishedbycommonlaw,SupremeCourt
rule,ortheIllinoisorUnitedStatesConstitution(720ILCS5/141).