SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio police officers accused of violating the department’s body-worn camera policy are rarely suspended, a months-long investigation by the KSAT 12 Defenders found.
During the three-year period from June 2018 to June 2021, SAPD officials reviewed 256 allegations of body-worn camera infractions. In 42 of those cases, slightly over 16 percent, was an officer suspended one day or longer, records obtained from the department show.
During those three years, SAPD officers recorded more than 5.6 million videos. SAPD policy requires officers to activate the camera when they are investigating and interacting with the public.Generally, the infractions center around an officer failing to turn on the camera or muting it at an inappropriate time. Allegations can be lodged internally by SAPD staff who review body-worn camera footage or from members of the public.
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