The Hawai‘i Police Department has completed outfitting officers with body worn cameras across the island this week. Nearly 150 patrol, traffic enforcement, and community policing officers in the South Kohala, North Kohala, Ka’u, and Hamakua districts have started wearing body cameras. This final rollout means about 300 officers island-wide have now been trained and outfitted with the Axon Body 2 camera. Around 150 officers started wearing the body cameras when the program was launched last month.

The Axon Body 2 camera is used by many law enforcement agencies around the nation. Recordings from the cameras can be used to demonstrate transparency to the public, document statements, observations, and behaviors by both law enforcement and the public.

Officers will activate the cameras when they have contact with the public, such as on traffic stops, during arrests, or while responding to a call. They will stop the recording once they are done with that incident. Officers will use their discretion in instances where a victim requests not to be on camera and may turn it off if asked. However, if the situation requires their taking law enforcement action, the camera will remain on.

HPD will keep all body wearing camera videos for a minimum of two years. Videos that are associated with a case will be kept for as long as is necessary until the case is adjudicated.

If a member of the public is involved in an incident and wants a copy of the footage the officer took during that encounter, they can submit a formal request to the Police Chief’s office.   The number for the Chief’s office is ‭(808) 961-2244

The department is pleased to enter this new era of technology working with the public to ensure our island community is a safe place to work and live.

The Body Worn Camera Administrator is Sergeant Travis Ing, at (808) 961-8398

Photo is Officer J. Masutani with his chest body cam.