Rules and Regulations Establishing Statewide Policy for the Use and Operation of Body-Worn Cameras

Regulation Authority:

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-161-4

Purpose and Reason:

The current rules and regulations are being amended as part of the agency’s annual policy review to ensure the rules and regulations remain consistent with state law, societal developments and feedback from municipal and state law enforcement agencies. The proposed amendments are primarily cleanup in nature with nothing substantive being proposed. For example, the agency has updated the language in the rules and regulations to reflect the practice that video footage is not deleted, but instead restricted, in varying circumstances. The amendments also updated the “activation required” section to more clearly state BWC cameras are required to be on for any service involving a member of the public. Lastly, the proposed amendments changed some references from BWCs to BWC equipment and broadened the type of reports that must document the existence of BWC.