A. The governing body of each county may establish a length of time for the county to keep departmental records and authorize the sheriff to properly dispose of or digitize all records not specifically addressed in other statutes.

B. Except as otherwise provided in this section, records shall be kept for a minimum of seven (7) years. However, the sheriff may keep any audio or video recordings from recording equipment attached to the person of a law enforcement officer pursuant to subsection C of this section; provided, the county shall keep for a minimum of one (1) year from the date of incident any such recordings that depict or directly relate to:

1. An officer-involved shooting;

2. Use of lethal force;

3. Incidents resulting in medical treatment;

4. Incidents identified in a written application for preservation of the recording of the incident received by a county sheriff prior to the expiration of one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the recording of the incident; or

5. Incidents identified for preservation as requested by the district attorney.

C. The sheriff's office of each county that utilizes or operates audio or video recordings from recording equipment attached to the person of a law enforcement officer within the sheriff's office shall keep for a minimum of one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of incident any audio or video recordings that do not depict or directly relate to the incidents described in paragraphs 1 through 5 of subsection B of this section.

D. Any written reports and records related to the audio or video recordings described in subsections B and C of this section shall be kept for a minimum of seven (7) years.

Added by Laws 1999, c. 5, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1999. Amended by Laws 2014, c. 299, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2017, c. 22, § 8, eff. Nov. 1, 2017; Laws 2017, c. 145, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2017; Laws 2019, c. 432, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.