Read BFD Departmental Order No. 148-09
Previous STATter911.com coverage of this issue here, here and here
It appears we won't be seeing many more videos like this one from the website of the Baltimore Fire Department's Engine 8 & Truck 10. While we recently told you of the new policy by the Houston Fire Department banning helmet-cams and the like, Baltimore's policy had already been in place.
Yesterday, Assistant Chief of Operations Donald Heinbuch sent out a friendly reminder that reads:
The use of any type of recording device by on duty members on Fire Property or Vehicles is prohibited. Included are cameras, video recorders, audio recorders and recorders on cell phones.
Members are prohibited from using these devices while on duty and responding to or operating on incidents.
Unit officers may approve the use of cameras and/or recorders by on duty personnel for photographing apparatus and members in nonemergency situations. Otherwise, only personnel authorized by the Chief of Fire Department may use recording devices under the conditions specified when authorization is granted.
Also on STATter911 …
- The First Amendment lives. U.S. Court of Appeals in Boston says there is nothing illegal about shooting video of police doing their jobs. – August 30, 2011
- Is this a good law that’s a victim of bad reporting, fueled by a lawmaker’s hyberbole? Or is this an attack on the First Amendment by the Illinois house? – March 5, 2011
- A STATter911.com reader on free speech in & around the firehouse including social & not so social media. News items from FDNY, Jackson FD & South Bend FD. – January 27, 2012
- Nude fire station photos continue to cause trouble for Pasadena, Texas Fire Department three years after it was dealt with. A good reminder about social media ethics & just plain ignorance. – June 19, 2011
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Heaven forbid these videos catch something they could use for training or even better……..EVIDENCE.
It is not like these guys are carrying the devices in their hands and not doing their job. They are mounted units.
What is the first thing an investigator asks you when they get there? What did you see when you pulled up?
A Police officer at a departmental accident. Was the light green? What happened? Who was at fault?
These could all be answered by video. Gee I wonder why most police cars have videos hard wired into their dashboards?