First Saint Paul police officers equipped with body worn cameras

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TUESDAY, SEPT. 12, 2017

First Saint Paul police officers equipped with body worn cameras

After almost two years of community meetings, research, training and carefully crafting a policy, the Saint Paul Police Department’s body camera program is coming into focus.  

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, Saint Paul police officers began wearing body cameras during their shifts protecting and patrolling the city.

The department first began work on its body worn camera program in 2015. It asked for community input on what people wanted to see (and not see) in the program. It studied other departments’ body worn camera programs and policies. It held numerous community meetings to discuss policies and best practices. And it conducted a two-month pilot program, during which officers tested two cameras and provided feedback.

After the pilot program ended in January 2017, the department crafted a policy that aligns with best practices, selected its vendor and purchased more than 500 cameras.

Currently, there are about 30 officers wearing Axon body worn cameras. Training will continue in incremental stages until every sworn member of the St. Paul Police Department, whether issued a camera or not, has been trained in the use and importance of this tool. Once the $750,000-a-year program is fully implemented by the end of this year, about 450 officers will wear body cameras as part of their day-to-day duties.  

The goals of the body worn camera program include:

• promoting trust, transparency and accountability
• enhancing officer and public safety
• collecting evidence for use in criminal investigations and prosecutions
• enhancing officers’ ability to document their actions and the actions of others
• deterring criminal activity
• providing information that can be used for officer training.

Saint Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell believes the body camera program will serve both officers and the community well.

“Our officers regularly respond to difficult situations, and I am confident that the body worn camera program will capture the professionalism and compassion that we deliver to those we serve,” he said. “While not a panacea, the cameras will help us build trust, increase transparency and deliver better service.”

In accordance with the body worn camera policy, officers are required to activate their devices when they are:

• dispatched to or investigating any call or incident
• assisting another officer at a call or incident
• participating in vehicle stops, vehicle pursuits, investigative stops of individuals
• initiating arrests
• frisking and searching individuals
• encountering or responding to resistance or aggression
• involved in any situation that becomes adversarial
• transporting people who are in custody
• conducting interviews in the field.

More information about how officers will use the devices is available in the Body Worn Camera Policy, which can be found at stpaul.gov.