Council sends security camera policy back to committee

“Why not have an ability to audit who is viewing that, so we can determine if anything is suspicious? If you have security cameras, having access logs of who’s viewing the data is not uncommon.” Christopher DeCruze

TRUMBULL — Town officials are pushing to adopt a security camera policy, which includes rules on who has access to footage.

The proposal would authorize Trumbull’s first selectman and police chief to view recordings of cameras placed in Town Hall and other public areas, such as libraries and parks. It would also allow their designated staff, along with officials overseeing departments housing the cameras to view footage.

“There is no written policy,” said town attorney Daniel Schopick. “The effort here is to have a written policy so that everybody is following the same rules.”

The proposed rules allow department leaders and investigators to copy or remove footage from town security cameras if they are related to an “ongoing investigation,” but requires them to ensure recordings of incidents are preserved during an incident.

The proposal would prohibit top department officials from allowing unauthorized staff or residents to view footage, and require them to provide the recordings to investigators if they request it.

It would also prohibit the public display of live video from security cameras.

Under the proposed policy, those who violate rules could face disciplinary action including termination.

In a meeting Monday, the Town Council delayed voting on the proposal and sent it back to the legislative and administration committee after a few members suggested additional rules.

Councilman Tony Scinto, a Republican, said the policy should require department leaders to request access from the first selectman before they can view footage.

“It seems that there’s no process, that every department has access,” Scinto said.

Christopher DeCruze, also a Republican, later said he wants the town to track who is accessing security camera footage.

“Why not have an ability to audit who is viewing that, so we can determine if anything is suspicious?” DeCruze said. “If you have security cameras, having access logs of who’s viewing the data is not uncommon.”

During Monday’s meeting, members also reduced the number of days the town would keep camera recordings on a server under the proposed rules: from 30 days to at least 21 days. Officials said Trumbull would be able to retain footage for 30 days if a request for a new server is approved as part of the town budget.

Even so, the proposed rules would allow those time limits to be extended during investigations by police or claims investigations for “insurance purposes.”