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Sherwood police present policy updates, body‑camera practices and pursuit review to advisory board
Summary
The police department reviewed a package of policy updates from its vendor Lexipol, outlined safeguards for camera systems and said it will present a side‑by‑side comparison for proposed vehicle‑pursuit changes before asking the board to sign off.
Sherwood police briefed an advisory board on several policy updates and technology practices, including Lexipol-supplied policy changes, use of body‑worn cameras, the department’s stance on vehicle pursuits and CJIS-related controls for criminal-justice information.
The chief said the department is not adopting all Lexipol changes outright and will hold three policies — immigration, social media and vehicle pursuits — for further review. On vehicle pursuits, the chief said the department’s current policy is strict and carries high liability; the department will present a side‑by‑side comparison of the existing local policy and Lexipol’s suggested changes for the board to review.
The chief explained how the department’s cameras work: body‑worn cameras activate automatically when an officer uses a taser, draws a firearm or turns on emergency lights, and the in-car system retains a 30‑second pre‑buffer so events immediately preceding activation are preserved. On activation the devices provide audible confirmation that recording has started. Officers carry the device as a worn unit and replace it on chargers between shifts; the department said it has not seen a reliability problem in prolonged incidents.
The meeting also covered CJIS (FBI Criminal Justice Information Services) requirements and local policies to control who may view sensitive records and when outside vendors or contractors may be granted access. The chief said all contractors or visitors who may access CJIS-controlled systems are screened and that the city has assigned an employee to oversee CJIS and related data controls.
Lexipol and DPSST reporting: board members were reminded that state certification and the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) require agencies to report certain employee separations and certification issues; the meeting noted that these records are used in background vetting for hires from other jurisdictions.
The board did not adopt changes to the three held policies during the meeting; the department will return with comparative drafts so the advisory board can provide input before any policy change is finalized.
Why this matters: vehicle‑pursuit rules, camera activation and CJIS controls affect officer behavior, liability and public transparency. The department’s choice to produce a side‑by‑side comparison gives the advisory board a chance to weigh specific changes before the city signs on to vendor-suggested language.
Next steps: the police department will provide a comparative document on vehicle‑pursuit language, and staff will schedule a forthcoming work session on social media policy once the new communications position is in place.
