Philadelphia —The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) today released the results of its audit examining how consistently officers in the Philadelphia Police Department’s (PPD) 18th District are using their body-worn cameras (BWCs) and following Directive 4.21. The review shows solid progress in many areas of compliance and highlights several opportunities to strengthen the department’s day-to-day use of this accountability tool.
CPOC reviewed a random sample of incident reports from February 2025 and audited 62 BWC videos across 66 qualifying incidents. While not every incident had footage available, the audit found that most officers who were on scene and equipped with cameras used them appropriately.
Among the key findings:
• Of the total incidents reviewed which required BWC recordings, just 62 percent included the footage accordingly.
• 90 percent of officers required to record BWC footage for the incidents in the sample recorded all or some of the incident.
• 85 percent of officers who recorded video followed the core requirements of Directive 4.21 (PPD’s BWC Policy) including activating cameras from standby mode, recording the entire incident, and avoiding prohibited content.
• 87 percent of videos captured the full duration of the encounter.
• 98 percent of recordings were activated properly from standby mode.
• No videos reviewed contained incorrect or misleading titles, labels, or categories.
A new breakdown of incident types where the officers did not record their encounters is included in the report. Security checks, which include bar/store checks and SEPTA checks, are the most common incidents where there is no BWC footage in the analysis. Vehicle stops were also a common situation when officers did not turn their cameras on. Properly recording incidents, especially those involving the public, can increase officer and civilian safety, help to establish investigative fact patterns, and can enhance public trust.
CPOC will continue to communicate with the department to determine some of the reasons why those specific incidents were not recorded with the overarching goal of identifying and addressing potential barriers to proper BWC usage.
The audit also identified areas where improvements would strengthen compliance. Eight of the videos started late or ended early. And in three cases where officers turned their cameras off before an incident concluded, none stated the required reason for doing so.
To support consistent and effective BWC use, CPOC is recommending several steps for district leadership and supervisors, including:
1. Reinforcing at roll call the requirement to activate BWCs for all calls for service and all interactions with the public.
2. Emphasizing full-encounter recording, including activation before officers exit their vehicles during car stops or initiate pedestrian stops.
3. Reminding officers to activate cameras during security checks of businesses and SEPTA vehicles.
Conclusion
“The data from this audit indicates that officers from the 18th district know how to use their body worn cameras which is a great guiding principle in our endeavor to increase compliance with relevant policies,” said Michael Tooley Jr. Senior Auditor and Research Analyst and leader writer of the report. “However, the percentage of incidents that were not recorded but should have been is a major concern. Officers cannot provide the highest quality of service to Philadelphia residents if they are not consistently adhering to their policies regarding the operation of their BWC devices.”
CPOC met with the 18th District and the Police Department prior to the publication of the report to share the findings. The agency continues to provide recommendations on training, consistency, and accountability around BWC use. CPOC will also release BWC audits of the 15th and 22nd districts.
Learn More:
Join us for our next Commissioners’ Public Meeting Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 6 PM, when Senior Auditing, Policy, and Research Analyst Michael Tooley Jr. will go over the findings in more detail. Watch live using zoom. Recording will be available the next day on CPOC’s YouTube Channel.
About the Citizens Police Oversight Commission
The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) is an independent civilian oversight agency designed to advance the just, transparent, and efficient administration of criminal justice in Philadelphia. CPOC is committed to conducting fair and timely investigations into police conduct, enhancing the quality of internal investigations, and fostering community engagement and trust.