The Citizens Police Oversight Commission (CPOC) today released the results of its audit examining how consistently officers in the Philadelphia Police Department’s (PPD) 15th District are using their body-worn cameras (BWCs) and following Directive 4.21. The examination reflects strong progress across multiple areas of compliance while also identifying opportunities to enhance the department’s consistent, day-to-day use of the accountability tool.

CPOC reviewed a random sample of incident reports from March 2025 and audited 49 BWC videos across 32 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:

• Out of all the incidents reviewed requiring BWC recordings, 73 percent included the appropriate footage.
• 89 percent of officers required to record BWC footage for the incidents in the sample recorded all or some of the incident.
• 53 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.
• 92 percent of videos captured the full duration of the encounter.
• Only 57 percent of recordings were activated properly from standby mode.
• No videos reviewed contained incorrect or misleading titles, labels, or categories.

The breakdown of incident types where the officers did not record their encounters is included in the report. Investigate Premise, which include responses to theft, domestic incidents, and investigations involving SEPTA vehicles, are the most common incidents where there is no BWC footage in the analysis. Pedestrian stops were also a common situation in which officers did not turn on their cameras. Recording incidents, especially those involving the public, can improve safety for both officers and civilians, support the development of clear investigative fact patterns, and strengthen 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.

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 while providing backup during calls for service.

Conclusion
“The audit data shows that many officers from the 15th District are proficient in using their body-worn cameras, providing a strong foundation,” said Michael Tooley Jr. Senior Auditor and Research Analyst and leader writer of the report. “That said, a number of officers in the sample were on patrol with their cameras completely off prior to the incident. We have identified this as a barrier in recording incidents, especially incidents that escalate quickly. Failure to adequately capture these incidents can have long term implications both internally in the police department and externally throughout the court systems.”

CPOC met with 15th District leadership 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. Additionally, CPOC will also release a BWC audit of the 22nd district at a later date.

Learn More
Join us for our next Commissioners’ Public Meeting Thursday, April 23, 2026 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. The full report is available on CPOC’s website.

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.