The Freeborn County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a body camera policy for the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office.

According to the eight-page policy, the body cameras are expected to:

Enhance officer safety.

Document statements and events during an incident.

Enhance the ability of officers to document and review statements and actions for internal reporting requirements and courtroom preparation/presentations.

Preserve audio and visual information of use in current and future investigations.

Be used in cases involving civil actions against law enforcement officers and Freeborn County.

Assist with deputy training and evaluation.

Freeborn County Sheriff Kurt Freitag said during the meeting four body cameras are in use to help learn how to operate the devices, and a sergeant is putting together logistics.

He noted a training outline is close to being complete.

The two court security deputies will both have cameras, and there will be eight in the Freeborn County jail.

Cameras will be in place for both Sheriff’s Office transport teams.

Body camera data collected or created as part of an active criminal investigation will be  confidential, the policy states, but data documenting a firearm discharge by an officer during duty — other than killing a sick or dangerous animal — will be public.

Other information expected to be public includes data documenting the use of force by an officer resulting in substantial bodily harm and public requests, subject to redaction.

“Data on any data subject — other than a peace officer — who has not consented to the public release must be redacted, if practicable,” the policy states. “In addition, any data on undercover peace officers must be redacted.”

Data documenting the final disposition of disciplinary action against a public employee will also be public, unless another provision of the Data Practices Act classifies data as private, the policy states.

“For instance, data that reveals protected identities — certain victims, witnesses and others — should not be released, even if it would otherwise fit into one of the public categories,” the policy states.

Deputies will be expected to activate the cameras when responding to calls and law enforcement-related encounters and activities.

“However, deputies need not to activate their cameras when it would be unsafe, impossible or impractical to do, but such instances of not recording when otherwise required must be documented as specified in the use and documentation guidelines,” the policy states.

Deputies will have discretion to record general citizen contacts and will not be required to inform people they are being recorded.

Body camera data will be expected to be retained for at least 90 days, and data documenting the discharge of a firearm by an on-duty officer — except for training Sheriff’s Office officers or killing a sick, injured or dangerous animal — must be maintained for at least one year.

Body camera data documenting deadly force by an officer, force requiring a use of force report of supervisory review or data documenting circumstances that caused a formal complaint to be filed against a deputy must be retained for seven years.