VI - 9.11 Policy on Body Worn Camera

I. Purpose

In compliance with the Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021, it is the policy of Bowie State University’s Police Department (BSUPD) and the Department of Public Safety to utilize body worn cameras (BWC). BWCs are used to enhance police services for the community by accurately documenting events, actions, conditions, and statements made during citizen contacts, traffic stops, arrests, searches, and other incidents.

II. Definitions

Activate – Physically pressing the appropriate button on the BWC to begin a recording. This action will capture the previously buffered 60 seconds of video-only recording.
Body Worn Camera (BWC) – A camera worn by a BSUPD police officer that records and stores audio and video data during the performance of their official duties.
Buffering – The option to let the BWC pre-record before activation of the device.
Call for Service – A request from the public for assistance is self-initiated by a police officer or received by a dispatcher through a call or text to 911.
Category Field – The labels assigned to recordings, which are created, uploaded, and stored by the BWC for retention purposes.
Deactivate – Physically pressing the appropriate button on the BWC to end the recording and deactivation returns the device to stand-by mode.
Digital Evidence – All digitally stored files, include photographs, audio recordings, and video recordings, captured by the BWC.
Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) – A Software as a Service (SaaS) platform to store and manage digital evidence to include video and audio recordings.
Docking Station – Hardware connected to a network, which is designed to upload recordings from the BWC to the DEMS. Simultaneously, the docking station recharges the BWC while uploading all digitally encrypted data (i.e., video and audio) from the device.
Download – Refers to the extraction of files from the BWC or application. Specifically, the term uploading and downloading refers to the transfer of data between one device and another or one application and another.
Enforcement Action – An event or incident in which an officer interacts with an individual in order to enforce the law or maintain the peace.
Health Care Facility – A facility that provides care, services, or supplies related to the physical and mental health of an individual.
Privacy Interest – When an individual has a reasonable expectation that his or her communications, activities, or located property would not be observed or overheard by the public.
ID Field (Number) – The alpha-numeric identifier is the Automated Records Management System (ARMS) Central Complaint (CC) number or the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Event number.
Incident – An event, occurrence, natural or human-caused, which requires a response from law enforcement to protect life or property. This includes planned events as well as emergencies and disasters.
Law Enforcement Contacts – Any interaction or dealings with law enforcement occurring after reasonable suspicion has been established that a crime or violation has been or is about to be committed.
Metadata – Descriptors that categorize an incident by time, date, location, and sequence (badge) number linked to the creation and categorization of the BWC recordings.
Power On – The BWC is turned on and in a stand-by mode or actively recording. When initially powered on, the BWC enters a stand-by mode.
Stand-by Mode – The BWC is powered on and buffering a 60-second video-only recording.
Storage Device – A media storage device that has been recognized by the courts as having established evidentiary value to include CD-ROM, flash drive, or other electronic storage devices.
Sworn Personnel – Employees employed by the Bowie State University Police and Department of Public Safety, as designated by the Code of Maryland ED 14-106 and consistent with Code of Maryland CR 2-102 to maintain law and order, and protect individuals and property within the property owned, leased, operated by, or under the control of the University. For the purposes of this Policy, the term “officer” may be used interchangeably with sworn personnel and includes all ranks.
Title Field – BWC recordings that contain an additional heading or distinguishing information to further identify a case or incident in DEMS.
Unintentional Recording – Any unintended recording that does not comply with this Policy or applicable law, nor serves an official purpose.

III. General Provisions

Safety shall take precedence over recording incidents, and officers shall not allow the operation of the BWC to interfere with their personal safety, the safety of others, or the safe operation of vehicles.
BWC shall be used to capture audio and visual recordings for law enforcement activities, to include calls for service and investigations. However, the BWC does not capture everything occurring during an incident (e.g., slight movements, resistance by a subject, or other items not seen or statements not recorded).
BWC has a 60-second video-only buffer, which is included in the recording when the BWC is activated.

IV. Officer Responsibilities

Uniformed patrol officers, plainclothes officers, supervisors, and commanders assigned to patrol/enforcement activities will receive training on BWC equipment and related policy, and then be permanently assigned a BWC. Officers cannot share or borrow another officer’s BWC.
Officers working a plainclothes detail may be exempt from wearing the BWC. Each detail will need to be evaluated as to the effectiveness of the BWC for the operation. Additionally, an administrative-rank officer shall approve the use or lack of use during plainclothes details.
BWCs shall be affixed to the front of the officer’s outermost garment. It should be clipped to the center torso area and be free from obstruction (i.e., coats or other gear).
Officers are required to download the recordings, categorize data, and assign ID numbers to their footage prior to the end of each shift.
Officers are responsible for charging and storing their assigned BWC in the designated docking station and securing it in an approved storage room while off duty. BSUPD personnel assigned Home-To-Work vehicles are exempted from this requirement.
The care of the BWCs and all associated equipment is the responsibility of the assigned officer. The BWCs will be operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions, recommendations, and this Policy.
At the beginning of the shift, each officer operating a BWC shall perform a function test of the BWC in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, recommendations, and this Policy to ensure the device is operational (e.g., the camera turns on, goes into “stand-by” mode, and can be set to record.)
Any officer encountering a malfunction of their BWC will immediately report the issue to a supervisor and submit a request for maintenance or repair to the BWC Coordinator through the BSUPD portal.
Officers may review their own BWC recordings under routine circumstances to include completing reports; obtaining information on traffic stops, crime scenes, and/or arrests; preparing for court, to include statement of charges; and reviewing statements from victims, witnesses, and suspects.
Officers may review other officers’ BWC footage for report writing purposes if they were in the video or the scene of the incident, or with written consent from an official at the rank of Lieutenant or above.
Review of the BWC recordings may occur for administrative investigations, training, performance reviews, incident critique, Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) requests, policy compliance, and other disclosures as required by law.

V. Supervisor Responsibilities

Supervisory personnel are responsible for ensuring assigned officers utilize the BWC equipment according to the manufacturer’s instructions, recommendations, and this Policy.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that officers are properly caring for and maintaining all BWC equipment.
Supervisors shall ensure that all officers are trained in the proper use and care of the BWC before being issued the device.
Supervisors shall ensure that all assigned officers’ BWC recordings are downloaded and properly stored prior to the end of each shift.
Supervisors shall retrieve the BWC from any officer in their command whose device is not operating properly and return it once repaired.
Supervisors can limit access to the BWC recordings in cases of critical or high-profile incidents (e.g., serious use of force, significant public interest, etc.) to prevent unauthorized dissemination of footage.
Supervisors will ensure that BWC footage is saved and labeled from all officers whenever an officer in their command makes an arrest. If there is a State’s Attorney request or subpoena for the BWC footage, personnel at the rank of Lieutenant or above will provide the recording with approval from the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety. Only the provided BWC or BSUPD-issued media storage device (if needed) will be used to make copies. Footage from each officer will be placed in its own file on the computer and labeled with the officer’s identification number and case number. If required, the same information will be referred to on the media storage device.
All third-party requests for Recordings should be directed to the Office of the General Counsel for review.
Supervisors will follow the video downloading guidelines provided by the DoIT.

VI. Issuing Spare BWCs

Officers will be issued a spare BWC (if available) when their camera is lost or stolen. Accordingly, a report and teletype shall be completed and approved by a supervisor for all lost or stolen BWCs prior to the issuance of a spare BWC. In addition, all incident reports must be forwarded to the BWC Coordinator.
Officers will be issued a spare BWC (if available) when their assigned cameras have been damaged or have a technical malfunction and no longer operate properly. For a damaged BWC, a Damaged Property report must be completed and approved by a supervisor prior to the issuance of the spare BWC. This report must be forwarded to the BWC Coordinator.
Upon meeting one of the above criteria, the supervisor may obtain the spare BWC from the designated docking station, in which the device is labeled “Spare,” depending on availability. Next, the supervisor shall complete a property receipt form that contains the following information:
1. Property and serial number of the BWC.
2. Date and time the spare BWC was issued.
3. Officer’s name and sequence (badge) number.
4. Receiving the officer’s and supervisor’s signatures.
5. Forward the completed property form to the BWC Coordinator.
6. Complete the Spare BWC logbook located at the designated docking station.
Officers receiving the spare BWCs will be unable to access their recordings until the footage has been migrated to their accounts. This will normally take 2-4 business days. Supervisors must ensure that their personnel receiving the spare BWCs are aware of this information.
When the officer’s assigned BWC has been returned, the supervisor shall ensure the spare BWC is returned to the designated docking station and the Spare BWC logbook is notated.

VII. Criteria For Use

BWCs shall be worn at all times when an officer is in uniform, including court appearances, overtime assignments, and special events. Officers assigned to primarily administrative or investigative functions may remove their BWCs when engaging in non-enforcement and/or investigatory actions, but shall wear their BWCs when engaging in, or reasonably anticipate engaging in, activities listed in Section “B”.
The BWC shall be utilized to document interactions with victims, witnesses, and suspects during police-citizen encounters, at crime scenes, and/or the course of traffic or bicycle stops, to include but not limited to:
1. On-scene interviews;
2. Consensual encounters;
3. Investigative stops;
4. Arrests;
5. Arrestee, detainee, or Emergency Petition (EP) transports; and/or special assignments, when directed by the highest-ranking officer in charge;
6. Following a medic, tow truck, or other vehicle as part of a continued investigation or call for service.
Officers utilizing a BWC will, at the beginning of a police contact or as soon as feasible, notify persons that the contact is being audibly and visually recorded.
Officers working in a plainclothes capacity will notify persons that they are police officers and wearing a BWC prior to recording.
Recording such incidents shall be the rule, not the exception.
Incident reports shall document any use of the BWC.
Officers may use discretionary activation, when not otherwise prohibited by law or directed by agency policy, officers may begin recording with the BWC in circumstances when they determine that doing so would be beneficial to the public interest.
The BWC will not ordinarily be activated in places where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists, such as private homes, dressing rooms, or restrooms, and other areas without consent.
Where two-party consent is required, such consent shall be obtained and recorded immediately, or the BWC will be deactivated.
Officers may stop BWC recordings and honor requests from special populations, or victims of crimes, in order to gain cooperation or statements.

VIII. One-Party Consent

Maryland law recognizes that some specific crimes and circumstances require only one-party of an interception and recording of oral communication gives consent.
In Maryland, there is a statutory authority given to police officers in the course of their “regular duty” to intercept an oral communication if:
1. The officer initially detained a vehicle during a criminal investigation or for a traffic violation;
2. The officer is a party to the oral communication;
3. The officer has been identified as a police officer to the other parties to the oral communication;
4. The officer informs all other parties to the communications of the interception at the beginning of the communication; and
5. The oral interception is being made as part of a videotape recording.
In addition, one-party consent applies to the criminal investigation of the following crimes enumerated in MD. CODE, CTS. & JUD PROC.ART., §10-401 through §10-414 as amended and revised, in order to provide evidence of the commission of:
1. Murder;
2. Kidnapping;
3. Rape;
4. A sexual offense in the first or second degree;
5. Child abuse in the first or second degree;
6. Child pornography under §11-207, §11-208 or §11-208.1 of the Criminal Law Article;
7. Gambling;
8. Robbery under §3-402 or §3-403 of the Criminal Law Article;
9. A felony under Title 6, Subtitle 1 of the Criminal Law Article [Arson];
10. Bribery;
11. Extortion;
12. Dealing in a controlled dangerous substance, including a violation of §5-617 or §5-619 of the Criminal Law Article;
13. A fraudulent insurance act, as defined in Title 27, Subtitle 4 of the Insurance Article;
14. An offense relating to destructive devices under §4-503 of the Criminal Law Article [Possess explosive material, incendiary material or toxic material with intent to create a destructive device];
15. Human Trafficking offense under §11-303 of the Criminal Law Article;
16. Sexual solicitation of a minor under §3-324 of the Criminal Law Article;
17. An offense relating to obstructing justice under §9-302, §9-303 or §9-305 of the Criminal Law Article [Witness Intimidation or Retaliation];
18. Sexual abuse of a minor under §3-602 of the Criminal Law Article; or
19. A theft scheme or continuing course of conduct under §7-103(f) of the Criminal Law Article involving an aggregate value of property or services of at least $10,000;
20. Abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult under §3-604 or §3-605 of the Criminal Law Article;
21. An offense relating the Medicaid fraud under §8-519 through §8-515 of the Criminal Law Article; or
22. A conspiracy or solicitation or solicitation to commit any of the above offenses listed in 1 through 21; or
23. If a person has created a barricade situation and probable cause exists for the officer to believe a hostage(s) may be involved.
It is also lawful to intercept and record an oral communication by one-party consent pursuant to an order by a court of competent jurisdiction.

IX. Two-Party Consent

For all other crimes or circumstances not enumerated in accordance with one-party consent, and where two-party consent is required, consent must first be obtained by all parties for the officer to intercept and record any oral communications.
The officer shall visually and audibly record this request for consent and the subsequent granting of the consent in order to continue the use of the BWC.
Absent such consent, the use of the BWC during the time of the incident or circumstances in question shall be terminated.
When consent is not granted the onus is on the officer recording the lack of consent to inform other officers arriving on scene to turn off their BWC.

X. BWC Recording

When circumstances permit, officers shall activate their BWC prior to making contact with a citizen in any incident as per the included CRITERIAL FOR USE.
As noted previously, officers shall identify themselves as police officers and notify persons that the contact is audibly and visually recorded, unless an exigency exists. If officers are unable to begin recording with the BWC due to exigent circumstances, they shall begin recording with the BWC at the first reasonable opportunity to do so.
Once activated, the recording will not be intentionally terminated until the conclusion of the incident or until the parties have left the scene; this includes the recording of statements. If such termination occurs, the officer with the BWC must demonstrate compelling reasons (e.g., Confidential Informant, or medical privacy issues). However, officers may terminate recordings to gain cooperation from a victim or witness, as long as it doesn’t conflict with any other portion of this policy.
Officers will not, unless extenuating circumstances exist or can be articulated, turn off their BWC when entering a Medical Facility or a Department of Corrections (DOC) facility when transporting an arrestee, detainee, or EP until after custody has been turned over to the facility and contact with the individual in custody has been terminated. When conducting an approved strip search, officers with BWCs shall advise an individual being searched that the device is recording. Next, the officer shall ask the individual if he or she wants the search to be recorded on the BWC or deactivate the device during the search. Officers may power off their BWCs when handling or investigating bomb threats or suspicious packages when the circumstances prohibit the use of a department-issued radio due to concerns related to potential detonation.
Any arriving officers to a scene will begin recording as soon as practical and continue recording until the conclusion of the incident, or until parties have left the scene; this includes the recording of a statement.
When an officer deactivates the BWC prior to the conclusion of an incident, he or she shall state aloud the reason(s) for the deactivation of the BWC. If it becomes necessary to reactivate the BWC, the officer shall state aloud that the recording has resumed. Any officer failing to activate his or her BWC in a timely manner as required, premature deactivation of the BWC, or any interruption in the recording shall document the reason(s) in a report and submit it to the assigned supervisor for review.

XI. Uploading, Categorizing, ID Number, and Titling BWC Data

Officers are responsible for ensuring that all BWC recordings are downloaded at the end of their shift or immediately after the BWC recording memory becomes full. It is recommended that officers monitor the battery level of their assigned BWC to ensure operability during their shifts.
If the recordings in the BWC become full prior to the end of the shift, the officer shall return the device to the docking station and download the footage.
All officers shall assign their recordings to one of the following categories after uploading BWC footage into DEMS:
1. Homicide, Rape, First and Second-Degree Sex Offenses – Incidents involving the killing of a human being to include all murders and manslaughter offenses; engaging in vaginal intercourse with another by force or threat of force without consent or mental capacity; or committing a sexual act other than vaginal intercourse by force, threat of force, or weapon without consent or mental capacity.
2. Felonies – A criminal offense punishable by more than one year in prison with the exception of Homicide, Rape, First and Second-Degree Sex Offenses.
3. Misdemeanors – A criminal offense punishable by one year or less in prison.
4. Traffic Offenses – Traffic violations involving minor and serious offenses. Also, traffic incidents include warnings, citations, and/or arrests.
5. Civil or Medical Incidents – Civil or medical activities involving vehicle crashes, injuries, accidents, emergency petitions, and tort claims on the property owned, leased, operated by, or under the control of the University.
6. Death Investigations – Incidents involving suicide, natural causes, and other non-criminal related deaths.
7. Judicial Affairs – Violation of the policies and/or procedures of Bowie State University’s Code of Student Conduct or Residence Life Handbook.
8. Administratively Restricted – Matters relating to critical or high-profile incidents (e.g., serious use of force, significant public interest, etc.), Internal Affairs investigations, or other circumstances or situations identified by the Chief of Police. When an incident is categorized as Administratively Restricted, a supervisor will notify the appropriate official at the rank of Lieutenant or above to include the BWC Coordinator, and access to the recordings will be restricted.
9. Training – Recording for training purposes may occur with approval at the rank of Lieutenant or above. NO recording shall be used for training while a case is being litigated.
10. Fire – Matters relating to fire, smoke, and/or gas incidents on property owned, leased, operated by, or under the control of the University.
11. Police Information – Matters not covered by other categories. Please note that incorrect categorization of an incident may result in incorrect retention periods.
After initially categorizing the BWC footage, the category of the data may be changed at a later date if circumstances require.
ID Field of the recordings in DEMS shall contain an ARMS, CC, and/or CAD (Event) numbers for all BWC recordings after uploading the footage. An ARMS CC number shall be used as the ID number for the following incidents in DEMS:
1. All criminal offenses.
2. Traffic Offenses resulting in an arrest.
3. Vehicle Crashes, Injuries, Accidents, Emergency Petitions, Tort Claims, Death Investigations, Judicial Affairs, and Administratively Restricted incidents. CAD (Event) numbers shall be used as the ID number in DEMS for all Traffic Offenses involving the issuance of warnings or citations, Training, Police Information, or any incidents not covered by other categories. Any incorrect ID numbers entered into DEMS may result in difficulty locating the recordings at a later time and/or failure to share relevant information.
Officers shall not title their BWC data when uploading information into DEMS. However, officials at the rank of Lieutenant may direct subordinates or title BWC data with an additional heading or distinguishing information to further identify a case or incident in DEMS. All titles used to identify BWC data shall be directly related to the incident or utilize reporting classifications (e.g., Robbery, Assault, Theft, etc.). No titles shall be used that may be deemed as offensive or may bring discredit, embarrassment, tarnish, or undermine the University or BSUPD. Any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action.
With the exception of Administratively Restricted, categories may be changed with concurrence from an official at the rank of Sergeant or an individual serving as the Officer-In-Charge. The Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety must approve category changes for Administratively Restricted.
The categorization of the incident in DEMS must generally match the classification of the incident in CAD and/or ARMS.
Officers are prohibited from erasing, reusing, altering, or destroying any audio and/or video recordings in the BWC. Failure to comply with this directive may result in disciplinary action.

XII. Restricted Uses

Officers are strictly prohibited from sharing any BWC log-in credentials, including username and password, with others.
Any use of the BWC for any purpose other than official law enforcement business is a violation of this policy and may result in disciplinary action. Non-law enforcement business includes, but is not limited to:
1. Covertly recording other law enforcement personnel;
2. Recording any communication with a supervisor, council member, or other government employee;
3. In court facilities and courtrooms, except with the expressed permission of the Local Administrative Judge or presiding Judge, according to Md. Rule 16-208;
4. Personal use of the BWC; and
5. Recording a conversation that the officer is not a party to, unless the officer is handling a law enforcement incident, and is in a lawful position when the recording occurs.
Officers will not use their BWC to record a particular person based solely on the person’s race, color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, or disability.
The BWC will not be used to record confidential informants or undercover officers.
The BWCs will not be used as a surreptitious/covert recording device or used in undercover operations without permission from the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety.
The BWC will not be used as a stand-alone device in recording evidence at crime scenes.
The BWC recording of a constitutionally protected activity will not be used to identify persons present at the activity who are not suspected of engaging in illegal activity or in need of assistance.
The recordings from a BWC may not be used to create a database or pool of mug shots, filler in a photo array, or be searched using facial or voice recognition software.
This section does not prohibit an agency from using recognition software to analyze the recording of a particular incident when a supervisory law enforcement officer has reason to believe that a specific suspect or person in need of assistance may be the subject of a particular recording.
In reviewing BWC recordings, as determined by the Attorney General or local State Attorney, does not impact the integrity of an investigation or negatively impact a criminal investigation, the footage may be reviewed by medical health professionals who are consulting BSUPD for the limited purpose of addressing the officer’s medical or mental health requirements related to a critical incident.

XIII. Data Management

The BWC recordings will only be downloaded to a computer specifically designated for BWC downloads and storage, which is operated and maintained by BSUPD.
Before going off duty, officers will download the recordings from their BWC.
Supervisors will ensure that assigned personnel have downloaded the recordings prior to the end of each shift.
The designated agency system administrator will be contacted by the officer to copy any data that is deemed to have evidentiary value on a media storage device (e.g., CD-ROM, flash drive, etc.) and enter it into evidence. Officers will note the incident, arrest, and related reports when audio/video recordings were made during the incident in question.
Data will not be released to another criminal justice agency for trial or other reason without having a duplicate copy made and returned to safe storage.
Recordings shall only be released with approval from the Office of the General Counsel. If approved, the Director, Assistant Director of Public Safety, or designee will release the BWC recordings once the footage is produced with the necessary redactions as required by MPIA or the General Counsel of Bowie State University.
Under no circumstances, shall any member of BSUPD make a personal copy of any recorded incident without prior written permission from the Chief of Police or designee. Failure to comply with this directive may result in disciplinary action.
The designated BWC Coordinator shall conduct routine reviews of the recordings for proper usage, officer safety concerns, training issues, and consistency between written reports and recordings.
Designated BSUPD personnel may review the BWC recordings for administrative investigations.
Officers may review their BWC footage under routine circumstances to include completing reports; reviewing information on traffic stops, crime scenes, and/or arrests; preparing for court to include statement of charges; and reviewing statements from victims, witnesses, and suspects. However, officers must note that they reviewed the BWC footage in their written reports. Also, the officer must note their review of the BWC footage on criminal and/or traffic citations to include judicial citations by using BWC and related ARMS, CC, or CAD (Event) numbers. For incidents involving critical or high-profile incidents (e.g., serious use of force, significant public interest, etc.), or who are the subject of a criminal investigation, officers shall not review their BWC recordings prior to completing and submitting any required reports and/or being interviewed by the appropriate investigative unit unless the officer received a declination letter from the prosecuting authority, or he or she was compelled to make a statement and the appropriate Garrity warning was issued.
Leased or purchased BWC equipment, and all recordings are the property of BSUPD. Only the BWC equipment approved by the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety shall be installed and worn by BSUPD personnel.
BSUPD shall retain an unedited original version of BWC recordings and shall document the review of data in DEMS to include the length of time and by whom. Also, BSUPD shall document in DEMS any copying or editing of the BWC data. Accordingly, BSUPD personnel are prohibited from tampering with or editing the original version of the BWC recordings.
Except as authorized by the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety, the copying, releasing, altering, erasing, or allowing unauthorized viewing of BSUPD recordings (or portion thereof) is prohibited and may subject the officer to disciplinary action.

XIV. Retention of BWC Data

BSUPD will archive the BWC data or recordings in accordance with the following schedule:
1. Homicide, Rape, First and Second-Degree Sex Offense - 80 years.
2. Felonies - 10 years.
3. Misdemeanors - 3.5 years.
4. Traffic Offenses - 3.5 years.
5. Civil or Medical Incidents - 3.5 years.
6. Death Investigations – 3.5 years.
7. Judicial Affairs – 3.5 years.
8. Administratively Restricted – 5 years.
9. Training - 2 years.
10. Fire – 3.5 years.
11. Police Information - 210 days.

Note: Selecting an incorrect category may cause the footage in DEMS to be deleted at a certain time when information is still needed for investigations or judicial purposes.

B. Recordings that are deemed evidentiary shall be stored until the final disposition of a case.

XV. Administrative Sanctions

Failure to activate the BWC when required by this Policy may result in disciplinary action consistent with BSUPD policies.
Failure to download the recordings, categorize data, and assign ID numbers to footage prior to the end of an officer’s shift or when the BWC is full may also result in disciplinary action.
Tampering or attempting to tamper with the BWC or related recordings, or deleting a recording without the approval of the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety, may also result in disciplinary action consistent with the BSUPD policies.

XVI. BWC Program Audit and Inspections

BSUPD shall conduct a yearly review of the BWC policy, equipment, and general operation of the program, as well as the interaction of the program with the community, and inner and outer stakeholders.
Audit of the BWC Program will be used to evaluate the following:
1. User performance,
2. Training and equipment requirements, and
3. Consistency between written reports and recordings.
Any violations of the BWC policy, transgressions of the law, and any activity that may discredit or harm BSUPD shall be reported to the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety.

XVII. Deletion of Accidental or Mistaken Recordings

When an officer accidentally or mistakenly activates the BWC and captures recordings that do not contain investigatory or hold evidentiary value, or official purpose, the officer may submit a Body Worn Camera Recording Deletion Request Form through their chain-of-command to the BWC Coordinator.
The BWC Coordinator will review the recordings and determine whether or not the footage has investigatory or hold evidentiary value, or official purpose.
If the BWC Coordinator determines the recording does not contain investigatory or evidentiary value, or official purpose, then the request, along with a recommendation, will be forwarded to the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety for approval/denial.
If the request is approved by the Director or Assistant Director of Public Safety, the form will be forwarded to the BWC Coordinator, and the recording will be deleted.
Copies of the approved or denied Body Worn Camera Recording Deletion Request Forms shall be maintained by the BWC Coordinator.

XVIII. Responsible Official

Vice President for Administration & Finance

XIX. Related Policies

Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021

Effective: May 29, 2025