Frequently Asked Questions Regarding The RPD BWC Manual
Frequently Asked Questions
Approximately 500 cameras are currently in use.
Lieutenants, Sergeants and Officers assigned to the following patrol functions: Lake, Genesee, Goodman, Clinton and Central), Neighborhood Service Center (NSC) Crime Prevention Officers, Special Operations Section (SOS), and the Tactical, Traffic Enforcement, Canine, Youth Services (School Resource Officers) and Mounted Patrol units.
Members of the RPD who are issued a BWC are required to activate and record all activities and contacts with people in the course of performing a police-related activity subject to some limited exceptions. (Some examples of police-related activities are: 911 calls for service, self-initiated street stops, traffic stops, prisoner transports and vehicle pursuits)
Members will be prohibited from recording when any law forbids video or audio recording. Other examples when the camera will be turned off are: Internal police matters, when inside a locker room within an RPD facility, when conversations are not part of an official police duty and during strip searches or body cavity searches.
Members have the discretion in certain circumstances to stop recording upon a citizen’s request. If the situation involves an arrest, detention or use of force, however, the officer must continue recording.
A citizen can request that a body-worn camera be activated. Unless the recording is prohibited by RPD policy, the member will record the incident upon a request to do so.
Police officers will have access to recordings made with their issued BWCs. Every police supervisor and investigator will have access to the entire data base of video footage collected for police-related purposes only. In sensitive or confidential cases, access to videos may be restricted.
The Monroe County District Attorney’s (DA’s) Office will have access to video footage for prosecutorial purposes only. The DA’s Office will provide video to defendants as required.
Persons may file a request under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) for recordings. The City will consider each request and comply with the requirements of FOIL.
Please refer to Appendix A, which can be found on the last three pages of the BWC Manual. Retention rates are based on criminal and civil statutes of limitations and New York State Records Retention Requirements.