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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: 2/10/2025 Item No.: 10.i. Department Approval City Manager Approval Item Description: Accept 2024 Body-Worn Camera Audit Report 1 2 Background 3 The Roseville Police Department (RPD) retained Lynn Lembcke Consulting to conduct an independent 4 audit of RPD’s Body-Worn Camera (BWC) policy. The audit covered the period from October 1, 2022, 5 through November 30, 2024. Under Minnesota State Statute §13.825, subd. 8, law enforcement 6 agencies that utilize body-worn cameras are required to conduct a biennial audit to ensure compliance 7 with the requirements outlined in Minn. Stat. §13.825 and Minn. Stat. §626.8473. Additionally, the law 8 mandates that the results of the audit be provided to the City Council and the Legislative Commission on 9 Data Practices and Personal Data Privacy (Minn. Stat. §13.825, subd. 9c). 10 11 RPD has been utilizing body-worn cameras since 2017, following the receipt of a grant from the United 12 States Bureau of Justice. Before implementation, as required by law, the department solicited public 13 input at a hearing on November 27, 2021. Independent audits of RPD’s body-worn camera program 14 were previously conducted in 2020 and 2022. 15 16 The recent audit identified one minor discrepancy related to a recent change in state law. The new law 17 requires that officers assigned a body-worn camera must wear and operate the system in compliance 18 with their agency’s policy, even when performing law enforcement duties under the command of another 19 chief law enforcement officer. While this was already was standard practice at RPD, it was not explicitly 20 stated in the department’s policy manual. Upon learning of this policy requirement, RPD immediately 21 updated its policy to include the necessary language and is now in full compliance with all statutory 22 requirements. No other discrepancies were noted during the audit. 23 24 Policy Objectives 25 One of the City’s aspirations is to be a community where all people feel safe and secure, and where trust 26 and mutual respect for police, fire, and all emergency responders are fostered. To build and maintain 27 this trust, it is essential that the Roseville Police Department (RPD) remains transparent in its policies 28 and practices. Conducting independent audits of the department’s body-worn camera program is a 29 critical component in achieving this goal. 30 31 To ensure compliance with state laws and to uphold RPD’s commitment to transparency and 32 accountability, an independent audit of the department’s body-worn camera program was conducted, 33 with the results provided to the City Council. Additionally, RPD’s policy on body-worn cameras is publicly 34 posted on the department’s website, reinforcing its commitment to open and accessible policing 35 practices. 36 37 Equity Impact Summary 38 The Roseville Police Department (RPD) is committed to fostering a culture of transparency and 39 accountability to strengthen public trust and legitimacy, particularly among communities that have 40 historically experienced mistrust or injustices in their interactions with law enforcement. Conducting an Page 1 of 2 Qbhf!23:!pg!264