POLICE Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

San Diego Police Adjust Body Camera Usage Policy Following Unrecorded Shooting

Zimmerman said at a news conference on Thursday in front of police headquarters that officers will be told to turn the recording on before they arrive at calls that “are likely to result in enforcement contact.”

May 8, 2015

The San Diego Police Department will begin training officers to activate body-worn cameras earlier in the process of responding to calls, Chief Shelley Zimmerman announced Thursday.

The new orders are a subtle but potentially important change in how the cameras are used, and comes one week after the fatal shooting of a man in the Midway District by an officer whose camera was not recording.

Ad Loading...

Previously, officers were trained to turn the device on when they interacted with someone in what the camera policy described as an “enforcement related contact.”

Zimmerman said at a news conference on Thursday in front of police headquarters that officers will be told to turn the recording on before they arrive at calls that “are likely to result in enforcement contact.”

Rawshannehad was shot in an alley off Hancock Street by a veteran officer on April 30. Browder had been dispatched after 911 calls reported a man with a knife threatening people in the area, and the encounter with Rawshannehad was not recorded on his body-mounted camera, U-T San Diego reports.

Some 600 officers have been issued cameras in the Central, Mid-City, Southeastern, Western, Northern and Southern divisions as well as the Gang Suppression Unit.

Another 400 are planned to be purchased in the upcoming year for the Traffic, Eastern and Northern divisions. The units cost $299 or $499 depending on the model, according to the 2014 contract between the city and the Taser corporation, which sells the cameras.

Ad Loading...

More Patrol

2026 ford police brochure
PatrolNovember 17, 2025

2026 Ford Pro™ Police & Special Service Vehicles Guide is Available for Download

Ford Pro™ meets the needs of law-enforcement agencies

Read More →
black background width image of police lights in middle and headline Dashcam Video Officers rescue Man from Burning Car
PatrolNovember 17, 2025

Dashcam Video Shows Officers Rescue Man from Burning Car

Dashcam video released by a New Jersey police department shows two of its officers rescuing an unconscious man from a burning car after a crash.

Read More →
blue background with image of a red dot sight and also second image of the red dot on a handgun lower right
PatrolNovember 17, 2025

Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT Named Red Dot of the Year

The Aimpoint COA optic + A-CUT system has been named Red Dot of the Year by Guns & Ammo magazine. The new optic system was introduced in January 2025.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Thumbnail for video series POLICE From the Show Floor, with headline text featuring Axon
Patrolby Wayne ParhamNovember 16, 2025

From the Show Floor: Axon

Join POLICE as we visit with Abi Stock, of Axon, to learn about the company’s latest technology offerings, such as Axon Assistant, Form One, and the DFR integration with Skydio.

Read More →
side view of a ballistic helmet in studio setting, black background, with sparks and smoke
PatrolNovember 16, 2025

Back Face Deformation, Brain Injury and Ballistic Helmets – Why the “Dent Doesn’t Matter” Claim Ignores Science

Alex Poythress, co-founder and CEO of Ballistic Armor Co., explains why ballistic helmet buyers should insist on full test data, including BFD measurements, standoff distance, and padding configuration, rather than rely solely on penetration ratings.

Read More →
Pink Streamlight Wedge XT flashlight.
PatrolNovember 13, 2025

Streamlight Marks 15 Years of Support for Breast Cancer Research Foundation With $20k Donation

In its 15th year of supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Streamlight donated $20,000 to help in the fight against cancer. Donations were generated through the sale of special Wedge XT models and other pink flashlights.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
center circle image of PTSD Help Expanded surrounded by military and first responder images
PatrolNovember 11, 2025

Police-Led Mental Health Charity Expands to Include Veterans

Talk To Me Post Tour (TTMPT), a non-profit organization that has been providing peer-support programs and professional psychological support for first responders, is now expanding services to military veterans.

Read More →
police officer holding a folded flag and headline for Officer Killed
PatrolNovember 10, 2025

WakeMed Campus Police Officer Killed in Hospital Shooting

A WakeMed Campus Police Officer died after being shot in the lobby of the emergency department at a North Carolina hospital over the weekend.

Read More →
Black background with blue graphic outline of state of Florida and headline Video Released: barricaded Suspect Falls Through Ceiling and Into SWAT Custody.
PatrolNovember 10, 2025

Video Shows Barricaded Suspect Fall Through Ceiling and Into SWAT Custody

Deputies in Indian River County, Florida, apprehended a suspect after he fell through the ceiling with SWAT members waiting below. The sheriff’s department released video of the apprehension.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
thumbnail for video series POLICE From the Show Floor featuring T2 Systems.
Patrolby Wayne ParhamNovember 10, 2025

From the Show Floor: T2 Systems

Learn about T2 Systems and its electronic parking enforcement solutions. Retired Chief John Holland outlines the benefits of using such a system to manage parking enforcement.

Read More →