InterfacerPH
Registered User
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2023
- Messages
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From: US Department of Veterans Affairs <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2023 10:55 AM
To: VA All Mailboxes <[email protected]>
Subject: MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY: VA Police Begin to Use Body Cams and Dash Cams
Every day, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s great police officers keep Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors safe. We are so thankful for their incredible service, and for their steadfast efforts to protect and serve those who come to VA.
As a part of VA police force’s commitment to safety and transparency, starting this month, VA police officers will begin to use in-car and body-worn cameras (BWC). We will be implementing this new policy across the country throughout 2023, beginning on June 20 in VA's Desert Pacific Healthcare Network. VA police officers across the rest of the country will be using body-worn cameras and in-car cameras by the end of 2023.
We are implementing this policy as a part of President Biden’s Executive Order 14074, “Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety,” as well as the bipartisan Cleland-Dole Act of 2022. The executive order requires that all Federal law enforcement agencies use body-worn cameras to promote equitable, transparent, accountable, constitutional, and effective law enforcement practices, and the bipartisan Cleland-Dole Act requires that all VA Police officers wear body cameras.
These cameras will help build trust, demonstrate transparency, support officers, and strengthen our commitment to de-escalation and avoiding use of force. These cameras will not be recording all the time, but they will be turned on when they are needed most. For example, body-worn cameras are automatically activated to record video & audio when 1) an officer draws their issued firearm from their duty belt holster, or 2) an officer activates the emergency lights in their police vehicle. Officers will also activate their cameras in certain situations, such as when they conduct enforcement actions or transport those in custody. For more information about this policy and what it means for your facility, read these frequently asked questions.
We have also taken steps to ensure that the use of these cameras does not infringe upon your privacy or the privacy of the Veterans we serve. Footage from these cameras will only be used for police investigations and court proceedings, or for limited other purposes as allowed under federal law. Unless there is a clear and compelling need for a recording, no video will be recorded in locations where a reasonable expectation of personal privacy exists.
I want to personally thank all of our great VA police officers for your service and for implementing this new policy. You often operate behind the scenes, but you are always ready to help when needed – even when that means putting yourselves in harm’s way. Thank you for protecting Veterans, their families, caregivers, survivors, and our VA colleagues.
Thank you all for embracing this change. It’s an honor to serve alongside you.
DM
PLEASE PRODUCE LOCALLY FOR ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT ROUTINELY ACCESS EMAIL DUE TO THEIR SPECIALTIES.
Sent: Friday, June 16, 2023 10:55 AM
To: VA All Mailboxes <[email protected]>
Subject: MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY: VA Police Begin to Use Body Cams and Dash Cams
Message from the Secretary
VA Police Begin to Use Body Cams and Dash Cams
June 16, 2023
Team,VA Police Begin to Use Body Cams and Dash Cams
June 16, 2023
Every day, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)’s great police officers keep Veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors safe. We are so thankful for their incredible service, and for their steadfast efforts to protect and serve those who come to VA.
As a part of VA police force’s commitment to safety and transparency, starting this month, VA police officers will begin to use in-car and body-worn cameras (BWC). We will be implementing this new policy across the country throughout 2023, beginning on June 20 in VA's Desert Pacific Healthcare Network. VA police officers across the rest of the country will be using body-worn cameras and in-car cameras by the end of 2023.
We are implementing this policy as a part of President Biden’s Executive Order 14074, “Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety,” as well as the bipartisan Cleland-Dole Act of 2022. The executive order requires that all Federal law enforcement agencies use body-worn cameras to promote equitable, transparent, accountable, constitutional, and effective law enforcement practices, and the bipartisan Cleland-Dole Act requires that all VA Police officers wear body cameras.
These cameras will help build trust, demonstrate transparency, support officers, and strengthen our commitment to de-escalation and avoiding use of force. These cameras will not be recording all the time, but they will be turned on when they are needed most. For example, body-worn cameras are automatically activated to record video & audio when 1) an officer draws their issued firearm from their duty belt holster, or 2) an officer activates the emergency lights in their police vehicle. Officers will also activate their cameras in certain situations, such as when they conduct enforcement actions or transport those in custody. For more information about this policy and what it means for your facility, read these frequently asked questions.
We have also taken steps to ensure that the use of these cameras does not infringe upon your privacy or the privacy of the Veterans we serve. Footage from these cameras will only be used for police investigations and court proceedings, or for limited other purposes as allowed under federal law. Unless there is a clear and compelling need for a recording, no video will be recorded in locations where a reasonable expectation of personal privacy exists.
I want to personally thank all of our great VA police officers for your service and for implementing this new policy. You often operate behind the scenes, but you are always ready to help when needed – even when that means putting yourselves in harm’s way. Thank you for protecting Veterans, their families, caregivers, survivors, and our VA colleagues.
Thank you all for embracing this change. It’s an honor to serve alongside you.
DM
PLEASE PRODUCE LOCALLY FOR ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT ROUTINELY ACCESS EMAIL DUE TO THEIR SPECIALTIES.
