When must a Body-Worn Camera be activated?

Activating a Body-Worn Camera before exiting a patrol vehicle to interact with someone is crucial for several reasons. This practice ensures that all interactions with the public are documented from the outset, providing a visual and audio record of events for accountability and transparency. This is particularly important in law enforcement where interactions can escalate or lead to varied interpretations of the events that transpired.

Moreover, activating the camera prior to engagement helps to protect both the officer and the individual involved by capturing the context of the interaction. This approach also aligns with many law enforcement agencies' policies to prioritize the documentation of all encounters that could potentially become significant in terms of public accountability or legal scrutiny.

In contrast, conducting an interview with a fellow officer is not typically mandated to be recorded unless it's relevant to an investigation or formal discussion, high-speed pursuits often have specific protocols under which cameras are activated, and training sessions do not constitute the same level of necessity for activation as routine public interactions do. Thus, the requirement to activate the camera before engaging with the public is a best practice that enhances overall policing efforts.