BACKGROUND
Law enforcement agencies across the United States are using new technologies such as automated license plate readers, thermal imaging software, gunshot detection systems, facial recognition software, predictive analytics systems, and body-worn cameras (BWCs) to enhance policing capabilities and improve public service. By providing empirical evidence through unalterable audio and visual recordings, BWCs are increasingly being used to improve evidence collection and agency transparency, to document encounters between law enforcement and the public, to strengthen officer performance and accountability, and to investigate and resolve complaints and officer-involved incidents. In addition, BWCs allow law enforcement leadership to gain greater insights into field operations, enabling them to make any necessary training, policy, and process improvements.
As of 2019, nearly half of the nation’s 18,000 law enforcement agencies have developed BWC programs. On October 29, 2020, the Department of Justice announced that state, local, territorial, and tribal task force officers would begin using BWCs in partnership with local jurisdictions in hundreds of federal task forces across the nation. In California, 74% (290 of 394) of city and county law enforcement agencies and 62% (36 of 58) of Sheriff’s Offices have deployed BWC programs. Some agencies chose to equip only patrol officers with cameras, while others require all uniformed staff to wear a camera.
Benefits of Body-Worn Cameras
A review of literature by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) suggests that well-constructed BWC programs can provide numerous benefits to law enforcement agencies and local criminal justice systems. Findings from a 2014 DOJ Community-Oriented Policing Services sponsored forum with over 200 police chiefs, sheriffs, scholars, and federal criminal justice agency officials cited the following benefits of BWC programs:
1) Increased accountability and transparency
By providing a video record of law enforcement activities, officials reported that BWCs make operations more transparent to the public and help resolve questions following an encounter between officers and members of the public. They help agencies evaluate and improve officer performance and enable agencies to identify and correct any training, policy, or process deficiencies.
2) Reducing complaints and resolving officer-involved incidents
Officials reported a noticeable drop in complaints after deploying BWCs. One explanation provided is that the mere presence of a camera can lead to more civil interactions between officers and the public, and that the act of being recorded tends to elevate behavior on both sides of the camera. Many agencies reported that having video footage of an encounter discourages people from filing false or unfounded complaints against officers saving significant time and money on lengthy investigations and lawsuits. Video can also be used to demonstrate that officers provide constitutional policing on a regular basis and to verify they are doing what they are supposed to be doing in patrol settings.
3) Identifying and addressing operational or performance issues
Officials reported using video footage to provide scenario-based training to evaluate the performance of new officers in the field and identify emerging areas where training or policy revision is needed to maintain or elevate performance related to tactics, communication, and customer service.
4) Evidence collection and documentation
Officials reported that BWCs significantly improve evidence for criminal, civil and internal investigations, and court proceedings. In addition to documenting encounters with the public, video footage provides a record of interrogations and arrests, along with what is witnessed by the officer on the scene. Unlike in-car cameras, BWCs can capture everything at a crime scene. Prosecutors participating in the forum reported that video evidence is particularly helpful in providing evidence in domestic violence cases that can be difficult to prosecute when evidence is sometimes insufficient for trial. Footage can show first-hand the victim’s injuries, demeanor, and occasionally even the assault itself. When suspects are shown video footage, they often plead guilty without going to trial. While video footage is frequently captured by bystanders, it often fails to capture necessary details, the events leading up to an incident, or footage from the vantage point of the officer.
Why LensLock
City staff looked at multiple BWC companies that provide similar services. LensLock Inc. is a company that provides BWC and digital evidence storage services for many agencies across the United States.
City staff was able to leverage an existing contract between LensLock Inc. and the City of Rocklin Police Department from 2018 (which contained significantly lower pricing than current market rates) in order to “piggyback” the terms and pricing from that existing contract. The City of Rocklin entered into a contracted agreement with LensLock Inc. after using a competitive process similar to Roseville. Staff recommends utilizing the "piggyback" process, as outlined in RMC 4.12.105, to enter into an agreement with LensLock for BWC services. This approach will result in tens of thousands of dollars in cost savings to the City. Additionally, the Roseville Police Department has used Lenslock, Inc., for digital evidence storage for several years, and by also utilizing them for the BWC equipment, we will be able to keep existing digital storage infrastructure, further saving the Roseville Police Department significant implementation and storage costs. Implementation of the BWC program is scheduled to commence on August 1, 2021.