MTPD Body-Worn Camera Footage Request
The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act governs how and when recorded video from Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) may be accessed by the public under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.825. The Act states that data collected by a BWC system are private data on individuals or nonpublic data. However, there are certain instances in which BWC video can be made available to the general public or to the subject of the recording. There are also instances in which public data may be withheld from release by the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD).
See below for an outline of these instances and further guidance on how to access.
Make a request using MTPD BWC Public Request Form
All public request must be signed and notarized.
- In Person: You may drop off the completed form at MTPD Headquarters at 560 6th Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Mailed request: You may mail the form to:
Metro Transit Police Department
Attention: Body Worn Camera Management Unit
560 6th Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
- Email: Send the completed form to: MTPDbwcVIDEO@transitpd.org
- Email request for Outside Agency only:
Make a request using the MTPD BWC Outside Agency Request Form
Email the completed form to: MTPDbwcVIDEO@transitpd.org
Requesting to Extend Video Retention: Per Minnesota Statutes Section 13.825, subd. 3(c), a data subject may submit a request to ask that BWC video is retained past the standard retention period as defined by the Metro Transit Police Department. To make such a request, the data subject must complete an MTPD BWC Public Request Form indicating the request for the video to be retained and submit the form to MTPD following the procedures outlined above. In these instances, the MTPD will maintain the video for 180 days beyond its normal retention period. MTPD will then destroy the video unless another request is made.
When is Body Camera video public?
Discharge of a Firearm: BWC video that documents the discharge of a firearm by a peace officer in the course of duty, other than for training purposes or the killing of an animal that is sick, injured or dangerous, is public data and may be released after any and all investigations are complete, unless exigent circumstances exist.
Use of Force: BWC video that documents the use of force by a peace officer that results in substantial bodily harm is public data and may be released after any and all investigations are complete, unless exigent circumstances exist. Substantial bodily harm, as defined in Minnesota statute, means bodily injury which involves a temporary but substantial disfigurement, or which causes a temporary but substantial loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ, or which causes a fracture of any bodily member.
Public Personnel Data: BWC video that are public personnel data under Minn. Stat. § 13.43, subd. 2(5) are public data.
Request by Data Subject: BWC video are public if a subject of the data requests that it be made accessible to the public, provided that, if practicable, data on other individuals who do not consent to the release of the data are redacted as well as data on any undercover peace officer whose identity is protected.
When is Body Camera video not public?
Active Criminal Investigation: Investigative data, including BWC video, collected or created by a law enforcement agency in order to prepare a case against a person, whether known or unknown, for the commission of a crime or other offense for which the agency has primary investigative responsibility are confidential or protected nonpublic while the investigation is active.
Classified elsewhere in the Data Practices Act: BWC video that are classified as not public under any other provision of the Government Data Practices Act retain that classification.
Offensive to Common Sensibilities: MTPD may redact or withhold access to portions of BWC data that are public if those portions of data are clearly offensive to common sensibilities.
How do we process your request?
Receiving Requests: Upon receiving your request, we will acknowledge receipt and provide you with a case number.
Before fulfilling a request, we may contact the requestor for the following reasons:
- to ask for clarification or additional information to help us fulfill the request
- to request verification of identity of a data subject
In order to process your request, we require certain information; without this information, we will not be able to locate the video that you are seeking. Please be sure to complete all fields of the MTPD BWC Public Request Form to ensure that we have enough information to complete your request as quickly and efficiently as we can.
Processing Requests: If you are the data subject of a request, you will be able to receive all BWC video related to an incident in which you are involved unless one of the restrictions above applies. However, under Minnesota Statutes Section 13.825, data on other individuals must be redacted or removed if they have not provided express written consent for the release.
Reviewing and redacting BWC video is the most labor-intensive part of processing a request. Staff must view all data related to your request and redact data on all individuals that have not consented to release. This includes obscuring any information that has the potential to reveal the identity of an individual. Depending on the amount of video, this process can take a significant amount of time.
When considering the time between your request and the production of video by the MTPD, please also note that your request will be processed in the order in which we receive all the information needed to process a request. By providing all required information at the time of your request, you can ensure that the video will be provided as soon as possible.
Standards for verifying identity
The following will be accepted by the MTPD as proof of identity as a subject of BWC video:
- An adult individual must provide a valid photo ID, such as
- A state driver’s license or ID
- A tribal ID
- A military ID
- A passport
- A minor individual must provide a valid photo ID, such as
- A state driver’s license or ID
- A tribal ID
- A military ID
- A passport
- A Minnesota school ID
- The parent or guardian of a minor must provide a valid photo ID and either
- a certified copy of the minor’s birth certificate or
- a certified copy of documents that establish the parent or guardian’s relationship to the child, such as
- a court order relating to divorce, separation, custody, foster care
- a foster care contracts
- an affidavit of parentage
- The legal guardian for an adult individual must provide a valid photo ID and a certified copy of appropriate documentation of formal or informal appointment as guardian, such as
- court order(s)
- valid power of attorney