Q: Who is required to wear body-worn cameras?
A: The policy requires all on-duty sworn members in uniform assignments, such as those in the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT), patrol, traffic, and public order event operations. Officers working special duty jobs for secondary employers are also required to wear cameras. Additionally, sworn non-uniform personnel must wear BWCs when engaging in police actions, except during detective interviews.
Q: Why did the Portland Police Bureau implement body-worn cameras?
A: BWCs strengthen community trust, enhance transparency, improve officer safety, and safeguard the rights and privacy of community members. The cameras also aid in resolving complaints, improve investigative quality, support criminal prosecutions, and provide important material for officer training.
Q: Does the community support the use of body-worn cameras?
A: Yes. A 2015 nationwide survey revealed that 88% of Americans supported police use of body-worn cameras. Locally, there was significant support for the program when funding was approved in FY16/17. Other nearby law enforcement agencies, such as Gresham Police, Beaverton Police, and Oregon State Police, already use BWCs.
Q: What is in the Portland Police Bureau's Body-Worn Camera policy?
A: The Portland Police Bureau's Body-Worn Camera policy (Directive 0620.00) outlines strict guidelines for the use, management, and retention of footage recorded by BWCs. Key points include:
- Activation: Officers must activate their BWCs when engaging in enforcement or investigative activities involving interactions with the public, including during arrests, traffic stops, and any situation where the officer develops reasonable suspicion or probable cause that a crime has occurred.
- Deactivation: Cameras may be deactivated in sensitive situations, such as when recording may jeopardize safety, confidentiality, or the dignity of individuals. Officers must document reasons for deactivation in their reports.
- Retention: BWC footage is retained for a minimum of 180 days in compliance with Oregon law. Critical incident footage (e.g., use of force) may be kept longer, depending on the nature of the incident or ongoing investigations.
- Privacy: Before footage is publicly released, all identifiable faces, including those of officers and civilians, must be blurred to protect privacy.
- Announcements: Officers must announce the use of a BWC at the beginning of an interaction, provided that doing so does not endanger safety or impair an ongoing investigation.
Q: What laws govern the use of body-worn cameras in Oregon?
A: Oregon’s body-worn camera legislation, passed in 2015, includes several provisions:
- ORS 133.741: Authorizes the use of video cameras by law enforcement.
- ORS 165.54: Requires officers to notify individuals when a conversation is being recorded, unless it compromises safety or investigations.
- ORS 181A.250: Prevents law enforcement from gathering information on political, religious, or social views unless it's directly related to a criminal investigation.
- ORS 192.345: Includes public records exemptions for certain sensitive recordings.
Q: How did the Portland Police Bureau develop its BWC policy?
A: PPB began studying the use of BWCs in 2014 and held community forums in 2015 to gather feedback. While the project was funded in FY16/17, it faced delays. In 2018, PPB staff visited jurisdictions in Arizona and California to learn from their experiences, which helped shape the final policy and avoid issues that other agencies encountered.
Q: When did the Portland Police Bureau start looking into obtaining body-worn cameras?
A: PPB began considering BWCs in 2014 and collected community feedback in 2015. Funding was secured in FY16/17, but the program faced delays until a pilot program was launched in 2023. The full BWC program was implemented in 2024 following the successful pilot phase.