Durham officers to begin using body cameras; public feedback sought on draft policy
The Durham Police Department will soon begin using body cameras, and officials said Thursday that they want public feedback about how the cameras will be used after finalizing a policy for officers.
Posted — UpdatedThe department held six forums earlier this year to give residents a chance to speak to police leadership about the use of cameras, and in a Thursday news release, a spokesperson said the department is finalizing the selection of which cameras officers will wear. A date for when Durham officers will begin wearing them hasn't been decided.
As the city of Durham works to which camera officers will wear, Chief Deputy Anthony Marsh said police leaders drafted a police to regulate their use.
"This first year is really going to tell us a lot about the program," he said.
Marsh said the policy was drafted after residents expressed concern over when the cameras would be recording.
"That decision is going to be made by the officer at the moment...quite frankly, it should be," Marsh said.
According to the policy, officers should wear the camera their entire shift and turn them on whenever an officer comes into contact with a citizen.
Durham police will take public comments about the draft policy through the first two weeks of January.
“Body cameras represent an opportunity for the Durham Police Department to enhance transparency and accountability to the community,” Police Chief Jose L. Lopez Sr. said in a statement. “We received a lot of great feedback from the listening sessions and we want to hear directly from residents about the draft policy. As always, we welcome and encourage residents to voice their ideas, priorities and concerns.”
- While body cameras could eventually become standard issue for all officers, initial deployment will include Uniform Patrol and High Enforcement Abatement Team (H.E.A.T.) officers.
- Officers will wear the body cameras for their entire work shift and during secondary employment/off-duty jobs.
- Officers will be required to begin recording immediately upon being dispatched to a call for service.
- Once placed in record mode policy requires that cameras will remain on until the initial incident that required activation has stabilized or concluded and the primary officer has left the scene. (Parameters for deactivation of cameras and guidelines for prohibited use are outlined in the policy.)
- Camera footage will be stored for at least 180 days unless it involves DWIs, misdemeanor or felony cases, accidents involving City of Durham vehicles or administrative investigations.
- Video footage captured by the cameras are records of a criminal investigation, just like the current in-car camera footage. As such, they are not public records per North Carolina General Statute §132-1.4.
- Officers will be required to complete training on both the cameras and the video management software prior to wearing the cameras.
- Cameras will not be shared between officers.
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