26-118 Requests for BWC Footage, Proper Tagging of AXON Evidence, and Changing AXON Roles

The purpose of this Department Notice is to inform members of their responsibilities when receiving requests for SFPD Body Worn Camera (BWC) footage. This Department Notice also details members’ responsibility of ensuring all evidence uploaded to Evidence.com is tagged correctly and clarifies procedures for updating roles in AXON.

Requests for BWC Footage

1. Interagency Requests - Members shall direct all SFPD BWC footage requests from other law enforcement agencies to the BWC Unit at their email address: [Redacted]. Requests must be written on the agency’s official letterhead. Examples of interagency requests are:
   • Local, State, or Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
   • Out-of-County District Attorney's Offices
2. Training Requests - Members requesting SFPD BWC footage to use in a training course shall submit the request through the Public Records Request Portal or email the BWC Unit. The release of SFPD BWC footage per these requests is subject to the Risk Management Office Commanding Officer’s approval. These requests will be handled in the same manner as a public records request, including redactions and restrictions on release if the case is still open. The Commanding Officer of the Risk Management Office has final approval discretion for requests.
3. San Francisco District Attorney (SFDA) Requests - Members should continue to use the case file sharing function within Evidence.com for sharing SFPD BWC case files with the SFDA’s Office. Occasionally, a District Attorney investigator will request SFPD BWC footage for an independent investigation being conducted by the SFDA’s Office. Members shall direct the SFDA’s Office to submit those requests according to the interagency request procedure in #1 above.
4. All Other Requests - Members shall direct the requestor of SFPD BWC footage to the Public Records Request Portal available through the SFPD website where they can submit their request.

Member Responsibility When Uploading Evidence to Evidence.com

When uploading evidence to Evidence.com, members are responsible for ensuring the evidence is tagged appropriately so that it can be easily located by investigators. Recently, Evidence.com was updated to auto-tag evidence (See DN 25-083). This does not alleviate a member’s responsibility to ensure all evidence is properly tagged by the end of their shift or their next regular shift. Evidence associated with arrests shall be tagged prior to the end of the member’s shift. Members shall upload and tag evidence in accordance with DGO 10.11, Body Worn Cameras.

Updating Roles in AXON

On occasion, member roles in AXON will need to change to reflect additional job responsibilities, such as an officer working in a role where they need Sergeant-level access to share SFPD BWC footage for rebookings or other investigative needs. The member whose role is changing shall submit a memo, approved by their Commanding Officer and forwarded to the BWC Unit, with the following information:

• The member’s name and star number
• Reason for the role change request
• Anticipated duration of the assignment
• Confirmation of CLETS access

It will be the responsibility of the unit requesting the change to notify the BWC Unit when a member’s higher-level access is no longer needed.

Downloading BWC Footage

Except as otherwise permitted by policy, members are reminded that they shall not download and save BWC footage to their desktop or external media (DGO 10.11). Members needing to review BWC footage shall do so in Evidence.com and only under those reasons permitted under DGO 10.11.

Any questions regarding technical issues with BWCs should be directed to Technology Division. Any questions regarding issues with BWC docks should be directed to your unit’s Facilities Coordinator. Any other BWC questions can be sent to the BWC Unit email at [Redacted].

/s/
DERRICK J. LEW
Chief of Police