The following recommendations propose actionable steps for improving APD’s body-worn and dashboard camera policies. These recommendations are informed by information gathered during Phases II and III of the rewrite process.
Based on findings from the community survey data, OPO recommends that APD implement OPO’s preliminary recommendations to the body-worn and dashboard camera policies through the following changes:
- Request and use public feedback when writing and developing policies on the use of body-worn and dashboard cameras.
- Update the purpose and scope sections of the body-worn and dashboard camera policies to emphasize the City of Austin’s commitment to reducing racial profiling, reducing the use of force, and improving community relationships and make it clear that these cameras can play a role in supporting that effort.
- Provide clearer definitions and guidelines when laws are unclear.
- Provide officers with clearer instructions for when they must start and stop recording with their cameras. This should apply to the capture of video and audio.
- Require officers to acknowledge their use of body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras in police reports.
- Provide instructions for officers to use when telling community members that their interaction is being recorded.
- Require supervisors to make sure that dashboard cameras and body-worn cameras are in working condition and being used correctly.
- Require that potential violations of the body-worn camera and dashboard camera policies be investigated.
These eight recommendations are directly tied to OPO’s preliminary recommendations.