Report raises concerns with APD’s body-worn, in-car cameras

AUSTIN, Texas - A new report has been released that analyzes Austin Police Department (APD) policies related to body-worn cameras (BWC) and in-car cameras (DMAV) in response to the Austin City Council resolutions passed in June 2020.

The report, released by the Office of Police Oversight (OPO), examines APD’s current policies in these areas and discusses how current guidelines compare to national best practices in policing.

OPO’s research revealed that APD’s policies do not align with national best practices. The report also proposes changes to improve safety for both the community and police officers.

"Body-worn and in-car cameras represent a significant investment from the City of Austin," said an OPO spokesperson. "It is critical that Austin police officers fully utilize these tools to ensure officer and community member safety is prioritized," they explained.

Some concerns about these policies that OPO’s report addresses include:

Reliance on policies from Lexipol leads to vague guidelines and removes community from the policymaking process
The current purpose statements governing body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras do not align with the City of Austin’s Reimagining Public Safety initiative
APD policy needs to be revised to align with recent state legislation and provide more clarity where state law is lacking
The current concepts and definitions related to body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras are unclear
The current General Orders allow too much officer discretion in activating and deactivating body-worn cameras
Current General Orders do not require officers to document their use of body-worn or dashboard cameras in an incident report or case file
The title "Advisement & Consent" for General Order 303.3.2 does not reflect its content
The current General Orders do not require supervisors to conduct inspections of dashboard camera recordings
The current General Orders do not support consistency or transparency in enforcement and discipline

OPO announced that it will host a series of virtual public events in February, including an educational presentation on current APD body-worn camera and dashboard camera policies. The meetings will be multilingual – English, Spanish, and American Sign Language – with other languages available upon request. To learn more or to register, click here.

Events will take place at 6:00 p.m.(CST) on the following dates: