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Public Safety Video Surveillance System

Public Safety Video Surveillance System

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Rob Port
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2K views

Public Safety Video Surveillance System

Public Safety Video Surveillance System

Uploaded by

Rob Port
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Policy Fargo Police Department

336 Policy Manual

Public Safety Video Surveillance System


336.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE
This policy provides guidance for the placement and monitoring of department public safety video
surveillance, as well as the storage and release of the captured images. This policy only applies
to overt, marked public safety video surveillance systems operated by the Department. It does not
apply to mobile audio/video systems, covert audio/video systems or any other image-capturing
devices used by the Department.

336.2 POLICY
The Fargo Police Department operates a public safety video surveillance system to complement
its anti-crime strategy, to effectively allocate and deploy personnel, and to enhance public safety
and security in public areas. Cameras may be placed in strategic locations throughout the City to
detect and deter crime, to help safeguard against potential threats to the public, to help manage
emergency response situations during natural and man-made disasters and to assist City officials
in providing services to the community.
Video surveillance in public areas will be conducted in a legal and ethical manner while recognizing
and protecting constitutional standards of privacy.

336.3 OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES


Only department-approved video surveillance equipment shall be utilized. Members authorized to
monitor video surveillance equipment should only monitor public areas and public activities where
no reasonable expectation of privacy exists. The Chief of Police or the authorized designee shall
approve all proposed locations for the use of video surveillance technology and should consult
with and be guided by legal counsel as necessary in making such determinations.

336.3.1 PLACEMENT AND MONITORING


Camera placement will be guided by the underlying purpose or strategy associated with the overall
video surveillance plan. As appropriate, the Chief of Police should confer with other affected City
divisions and designated community groups when evaluating camera placement. Environmental
factors, including lighting, location of buildings, presence of vegetation or other obstructions should
also be evaluated when determining placement.
Cameras shall only record video images and not sound. Recorded images may be used for a
variety of purposes, including criminal investigations and monitoring of activity around high-value
or high-threat areas. The public safety video surveillance system may be useful for the following
purposes:
(a) To prevent, deter and identify criminal activity.
(b) To target identified areas of gang and narcotics complaints or activity.
(c) To respond to critical incidents.

Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/07/12, All Rights Reserved. Public Safety Video Surveillance System - 1
Published with permission by Fargo Police Department
Fargo Police Department
Policy Manual

Public Safety Video Surveillance System

(d) To assist in identifying, apprehending and prosecuting offenders.


(e) To document officer and offender conduct during interactions to safeguard the rights
of the public and officers.
(f) To augment resources in a cost-effective manner.
(g) To monitor pedestrian and vehicle traffic activity.
Images from each camera should be recorded in a manner consistent with the underlying purpose
of the particular camera. Images can be viewed from any computer which has the appropriate
viewing software. When activity warranting further investigation is reported or detected at any
camera location, the available information should be provided to responding officers in a timely
manner. The Field Services Commander, or his/her designee, are authorized to coordinate with
the City of Fargo IS Department to adjust the cameras to more effectively view a particular area
for any legitimate public safety purpose.
The Chief of Police may authorize video feeds from the public safety video surveillance system to
be forwarded to a specified location for monitoring by other than police personnel, such as allied
government agencies, road or traffic crews, or fire or emergency operations personnel.
Unauthorized recording, viewing, reproduction, dissemination or retention is prohibited.

336.3.2 CAMERA MARKINGS


All public areas monitored by public safety surveillance equipment should be marked in a
conspicuous manner with appropriate signs to inform the public that the area is under police
surveillance. Signs should be well lit, placed appropriately and without obstruction to ensure
visibility.

336.3.3 INTEGRATION WITH OTHER TECHNOLOGY


The Department may elect to integrate its public safety video surveillance system with other
technology to enhance available information. Systems such as gunshot detection, incident
mapping, crime analysis, license plate recognition, facial recognition and other video-based
analytical systems may be considered based upon availability and the nature of department
strategy.
The Department should evaluate the availability and propriety of networking or otherwise
collaborating with appropriate private sector entities and should evaluate whether the use
of certain camera systems, such as pan-tilt-zoom systems and video enhancement or other
analytical technology, requires additional safeguards.

336.4 VIDEO SUPERVISION


Supervisors should monitor video surveillance access and usage to ensure members are
within department policy and applicable laws.

336.4.1 PROHIBITED ACTIVITY


Public safety video surveillance systems will not intentionally be used to invade the privacy of
individuals or observe areas where a reasonable expectation of privacy exists.

Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/07/12, All Rights Reserved. Public Safety Video Surveillance System - 2
Published with permission by Fargo Police Department
Fargo Police Department
Policy Manual

Public Safety Video Surveillance System

Public safety video surveillance equipment shall not be used in an unequal or discriminatory
manner and shall not target individuals or groups based solely on actual or perceived
characteristics such as race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender
identity or expression, economic status, age, cultural group, or disability.
Video surveillance equipment shall not be used to harass, intimidate, or discriminate against any
individual or group.

336.5 STORAGE AND RETENTION OF MEDIA


All downloaded media shall be stored in a secure area with access restricted to authorized
persons. A recording needed as evidence shall be copied to a suitable medium and booked in
accordance with established evidence procedures. All actions taken with respect to retention of
media shall be appropriately documented.
The type of video surveillance technology employed and the manner in which recordings are
used and stored will affect retention periods. The recordings should be stored and retained in
accordance with the established records retention schedule.

336.5.1 EVIDENTIARY INTEGRITY


All downloaded and retained media shall be treated in the same manner as video evidence.
Media shall be accessed, maintained, stored and retrieved in a manner that ensures its integrity
as evidence, including strict adherence to chain of custody requirements. Electronic trails,
including encryption, digital masking of innocent or uninvolved individuals to preserve anonymity,
authenticity certificates and date and time stamping, shall be used as appropriate to preserve
individual rights and to ensure the authenticity and maintenance of a secure evidentiary chain of
custody.

336.6 RELEASE OF VIDEO IMAGES


Recorded videos are classified as public records (N.D.C.C. § 44-04-17.1). Allrecorded video
images gathered by the public safety video surveillance equipment are for the official use of the
Fargo Police Department.
Requests for recorded video images from the public or the media shall be processed in the same
manner as requests for department public records.
Requests for recorded images from other law enforcement agencies shall be referred to the
Administrative Division commander, or his/her designee, for release in accordance with a specific
and legitimate law enforcement purpose.
Recorded video images that are the subject of a court order or subpoena shall be processed in
accordance with the established department subpoena process.

336.7 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AUDIT


The Chief of Police or the authorized designee will conduct an annual review of the public
safety video surveillance system. The review should include an analysis of the cost, benefit and

Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/07/12, All Rights Reserved. Public Safety Video Surveillance System - 3
Published with permission by Fargo Police Department
Fargo Police Department
Policy Manual

Public Safety Video Surveillance System

effectiveness of the system, including any public safety issues that were effectively addressed or
any significant prosecutions that resulted, and any systemic operational or administrative issues
that were identified, including those related to training, discipline or policy.
The results of each review shall be appropriately documented and maintained by the Chief of
Police or the authorized designee and other applicable advisory bodies. Any recommendations
for training or policy should be promptly addressed.

336.8 TRAINING
All department members authorized to operate or access public video surveillance systems shall
receive appropriate training. Training should include guidance on the use of cameras, interaction
with dispatch and patrol operations and a review regarding relevant policies and procedures,
including this policy. Training should also address state and federal law related to the use of video
surveillance equipment and privacy.

Copyright Lexipol, LLC 2021/07/12, All Rights Reserved. Public Safety Video Surveillance System - 4
Published with permission by Fargo Police Department

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