Ventura County agencies review body camera policy following Stephon Clark shooting

The Stephon Clark shooting is shedding a light on the use of police-worn body cameras.

Local agencies are reviewing their own policies after controversy surrounds Sacramento officers for silencing their cameras minutes after they killed Clark.

Oxnard police Sergeant, Gregory Harasymowycz says the department reviews their policies following a major incident.

“Every month we have a body-worn camera unit that essentially reviews the policy to see what changes need to be made,” said Harasymowycz. “In events like the Sacramento shooting, those are events and others in the country we always review at that point to see if we are in the best practices.”

Under the Oxnard Police Department policy, officers can silence their cameras for two reasons: When in a tactical situation or if a person wants to remain anonymous

“The tactical side is secondary and something we use very rarely, so its mostly about that victim, that witness that wants to come that wants to approach us and says, ‘look I don’t want my voice on camera and I don’t want people to know I’m talking to you,'” said Harasymowycz.

Ventura police have a similar policy, but they are not able to silence their cameras only turn them off completely.

“Our policy is always changing based on things that are happening so we are reviewing that policy again and right at this point we’re going to continue as it has been to the officers’ discretion to when they are going to be turning it off,” said Commander Tom Higgins.

After Clark’s death, Sacramento police implemented an emergency muting ordinance.

Now officers must audibly record a reason for muting their camera before they do so.