State Attorney’s Office for Fourth Judicial Circuit releases memo on body cam footage in officer-involved shootings

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In response to “a significant number of inquiries regarding the handling of officer-involved shooting (OIS) incidents and the release of body-worn camera (BWC) footage," the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit released a memo on the subject Tuesday.

In the memo, the SAO for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, which covers Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, laid out the process it follows when investigating officer-involved shootings that happen in those three counties.

“As in any investigation, ensuring the integrity of evidence is of paramount importance,” the memo states. “Witness accounts must be of their own accord and not influenced — either intentionally or unintentionally — by other evidence in the case. For these same reasons, in all OIS investigations involving BWC footage, a shooting officer is prohibited from viewing any BWC footage except for footage recorded by their own BWC.”

The SAO also explained the timing of the release for body-worn camera footage -- “When an investigation is concluded and our report rendered, all records in the case (including BWC footage) become available to the public (subject to the limitations of Florida’s Public Records Law) upon request.”

The SAO said that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office “has advised that it is legally prevented from releasing BWC footage prior to any administrative hearing of a shooting officer, which occurs after the conclusion of the criminal investigation by the SAO. As a result, moving forward, the SAO will determine the public release of BWC footage in OIS incidents.”

In the memo, the SAO also said it is looking at proposed reforms to its body-worn camera release policy, “including determining a date by which certain BWC footage will be made available to the public in all OIS incidents.”

In addition to expediting the release of BWC footage, demonstrators have been asking for the release of footage in the December death of 22-year-old Jamee Johnson, who was killed by a JSO officer during a traffic stop.

“The SAO is working to bring the OIS investigation of Jamee Johnson to conclusion and will make available the BWC footage at the same time we render our decision and findings.”

READ THE FULL MEMO BELOW:

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