LOS ANGELES – (INT) - The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) formally endorsed the Riverside County Sheriff's Department’s posture since 2014 of "not allowing the prior viewing of police body-worn camera (BWC) video" before those officers make their initial statements to investigators in critical incidents explaining why they took the actions they did.

Law enforcement agencies do not often seem in agreement with the ACLU on a variety of topics. However, all recognize that a fundamental role of law enforcement agencies is to maintain legitimacy and credibility with the public we serve.

This includes conducting investigations of critical incidents involving force as "objectively" as we possibly can. In the Sheriff's view, this best protects the public, the agency, and ultimately, our very own law enforcement officers as well. The Riverside County Sheriff's Department specifically adopted this posture on its investigations of officer-involved shootings, in-custody deaths, and other critical incidents in 2014.

Deputies have access to review BWC video in their ROUTINE reports and investigations, just as they have traditionally done over the years using notes, videos of various types, and other evidence. However, in the event of a critical incident, the need to objectively investigate the deputies' actions is absolutely paramount.

Story Date: August 2, 2015