San Francisco Police Commission narrows issues but splits on when officers may view body‑cam footage

San Francisco’s Police Commission spent the bulk of its Nov. 4 meeting going line‑by‑line through a six‑page draft policy for department body‑worn cameras, advancing language on when officers must record and how recordings are stored while leaving unresolved a contentious question: whether officers involved in critical incidents may review footage before giving formal statements.

President Loftus opened the discussion by describing the working‑group process that produced the draft and by posting the document on the commission website. The draft draws on national guidance and California legislation, and the commission repeatedly referenced AB 69 as a set of retention and storage best practices to be reflected in the final policy, President Loftus said.

The commission reached early consensus on several items: members are “not required to activate or deactivate a body‑worn camera upon the request of a citizen,” and the policy should enumerate clear triggers for mandatory activation — including detentions and arrests, searches, traffic and pedestrian stops, transportation of detainees, and situations that may produce evidentiary value. Chief (identified in the transcript as chief/Chief Gregory P.) told the panel that cameras being procured include a pre‑buffer to capture several seconds of footage before activation, a technical measure the commission cited when debating whether officers must turn cameras on…