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Police now using body cameras

FAIRMONT — After obtaining public feedback, working out technical issues and recently completing a trial run, the Fairmont Police Department is ready to roll out its body cameras.

In order to keep the public informed and avoid any misconceptions, Police Chief Mike Hunter shared how the program began, and how the cameras will be used moving forward.

In 2016, the police department started the budget process for 2017 capital expenditures. The department asked the city to designate funds for body-worn video cameras.

“With this, there was some changes in two state laws that are specific to body cameras,” Hunter said. “[These] specifically regulate body camera classifications, and it determines that predominantly, most of the body camera worn video is private non-public data.

“So there’s four circumstances in which body camera video can be released to the public,” he said. “Body camera data becomes public when a peace officer discharges a firearm in the course of duty, except for dispatching an animal or in training. It also becomes public when use of force by a peace officer results in substantial bodily harm, such as broken arms, or something more than bumps and bruises.”

Hunter said the third instance involves when the subject of the data requests it be made public, after redacting by blurring video or distorting audio of those who have not consented to the release. Finally, it may become public when body camera video documenting the basis for discipline is part of personal data and the final disposition of discipline.

Hunter also noted that the data can be made public via court order.

“The interesting thing with the state of Minnesota is that we have different data practices laws than some of the other states,” he said. “In places like Seattle, out in Washington, you’ll see they started having so many request for body camera videos, and theirs are determined to be predominantly public, so they’re put in everything. I think Minnesota has worked to balance the privacy of its citizens, so all of our calls are not put out to a public forum for people to review when they’re in a time of crisis or dealing with law enforcement.

“It’s different than our squad car cameras, though, because our squad car cameras are mounted in our squads and are always taking public view. So the concern was that if I bring a body camera into a residence, place of business, or health care facility or school, there’s a concern that that video and data will not become public and just put out onto the internet. So, we have people and businesses that have safeguards in place under Minnesota statute.”

In 2017, Fairmont police selected the WatchGuard Vista Body Worn Camera as the potential unit for the Department. The department and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office both use the WatchGuard In-Squad Camera system in their marked patrol cars.

“We were already familiar with the company and program, and we already had the software in place,” Hunter said. “So it was the best choice to make it an easy transition. We already had a server set up to store the data that’s congruent with the WatchGuard Software, so it made sense to go with them.”

Public comment and input was accepted from Sept. 25 through Oct. 20, 2017. The public was given the opportunity to provide input via mail, email, phone calls and in person to the chief, mayor or City Council members. The public also could provide input via a 10-question survey online.

Those results were presented to the City Council on Oct. 23, 2017. Information was posted on the police website at www.fairmontpolice.org

“The first simple question was: ‘Do you feel the Fairmont Police Department should purchase and use body worn cameras in our community?'” Hunter said. “And we had a 78 percent that said yes, 14.8 percent said no and 6.5 percent were unsure. What we garnered from the survey results was that there was an overwhelming majority of our community that favored the use of the cameras.

“So we were able to get the draft of our policy developed, which was based on a model policy from the League of Minnesota Cities,” he continued. “With that, we were able to put that to the City Council for discussion and up for public input. We also put a copy on our website.

“Once we met all the requirements, we were able to move forward with the implementation and purchase of the cameras. So, on Jan. 2, 2018, we made the purchase and put our order in and they arrived at the end of April/beginning of May 2018. Once we got them, we started software implementation, and then we had a 30-trial out on the street.”

Hunter said the cameras are on an automatic 30-second loop, so if officers start to see something, they can capture that little bit of time before they hit record during an incident. He also noted that an in-house training program began Aug. 1. Then they will be out on the street.

Hunter said the department is one of the few in southern Minnesota using the cameras, and notes that their use is not required by law.

“What it is is one more objective tool we can use to document our interactions with our community and the incidents that we respond to,” he said.

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