Video Evidence. Where video evidence exists and is relied upon for discipline, Executive Board and Executive Council Representatives from the Union will be afforded an opportunity to review the video evidence prior to an employee interview. It is understood that this protocol will not delay the investigatory process. Union representatives who view the video prior to the employee being interviewed must agree to treat the details of the video in a strictly confidential manner until the Company has allowed the employee to view the video. Such representatives may advise the employee of the level of seriousness of the incident, but may not reveal to the employee any details about the content of the video.
Video Evidence a. If an Officer Involved Critical Incident is captured on video, the review of this video by the officer is permitted prior to any report writing or interviews. Prior to the involved officer reviewing the video, the task force investigator will read the following advisory:
i. Video Advisory: “You are about to view a camera recording of a use-of-force event. Understand that while this recording depicts visual information from the scene, the human eye and brain are highly likely to perceive some things in stressful situations differently than a camera records them, so this photographic record may not reflect how the involved officer actually perceived the event. The recording may depict things that the officer did not see or hear. The officer may have seen or heard things that were not recorded by the camera. Depending on the speed of the camera, some action elements may not have been recorded or may have happened faster than the officer could perceive and absorb them. The camera has captured a 2-dimensional image, which may be different from an officer’s 3-dimensional observations. Lighting and angles may also have contributed to different perceptions. And, of course, the camera did not view the scene with the officer’s unique experience and training. Hopefully, this recording will enhance your understanding of the incident. Keep in mind, though, that these video images are only one piece of evidence to be considered in reconstructing and evaluating the totality of the circumstances. Some elements may require further exploration and explanation before the investigation is concluded.”
Video Evidence. The Department may use recorded imagery as evidence in an official Department investigation provided the imagery is of a specific incident as outlined in Section 15.1.
