Waterville council adopts police body‑worn camera policy

The Waterville City Council on April 7 approved a new portable recording systems policy for the Waterville Police Department that authorizes chest‑mounted body‑worn cameras and establishes privacy and retention rules.

City Attorney Jason Moran told the council the department has operated without body cameras and that investigators and prosecutors increasingly rely on body‑worn footage as evidence. Moran said officers will be able to start and stop recording in certain circumstances and that discretion is built into the policy to protect confidentiality. "Body‑worn cameras are increasingly the best evidence that we present to juries in criminal cases," Moran said.

Moran outlined access and retention provisions: recordings are presumptively private under state law, data subjects may request copies subject to exceptions for active criminal investigations and potential duplication fees, and staff may redact footage to protect sensitive individuals such as children or those in witness protection. He said retention minimums are 90 days generally, one year when a firearm is discharged, and six years for use‑of‑force incidents. Squad (in‑vehicle) camera features include automatic activation when lights or sirens are engaged and limited buffer recording prior to lights activation.

During public comment, resident Sue Mariska asked whether officers must activate cameras at calls; Moran said officers typically start recording when they anticipate interacting with a witness but that the policy allows officer judgment in some situations. Councilor Jennifer Grobe asked whether traffic stops will be recorded; Moran replied that traffic stops are recorded and that the vehicle system can capture a short period before lights come on.

Councilor Tim Smith moved to adopt the policy and Councilor Scott Potter seconded; the motion carried 4-0. The council did not schedule a public rollout or training timeline during the meeting. The policy text states officers may restrict recording in circumstances requiring confidentiality; staff will need to implement data storage, redaction workflows, and public‑records response procedures before full operation.