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formally request to participate in the TFO BWC program and, upon approval, comply with all <br />USMS policies, procedures, documentation, and reporting during their participation. The USMS <br />will inform all partner agencies of which other partner agencies, if any, have been authorized to <br />have their TFOs wear BWCs on the Task Force. Accordingly, all partner agencies should be <br />aware that TFOs may be participating in the TFO BWC program and may be operating with <br />BWCs on USMS task force operations in their agency's jurisdiction. TFOs whose parent agency <br />is not approved for participation in the TFO BWC program are not allowed to deploy with <br />BWCs on USMS missions. As of September 2021, DOJ law enforcement components are <br />implementing BWC into their agency missions. Accordingly, all partner agencies should be <br />aware that USMS and other DOJ law enforcement personnel may be operating with BWCs on <br />USMS task force operations. <br />RECORDS, REPORTS, AND TESTIMONY: After the RFTF/VOTF has adopted a warrant, <br />all investigative reports, evidence, and other materials generated, seized or collected by the <br />RFTF/VOTF, relating to the fugitive investigation, shall be material within the custody and <br />control of the RFTF/VOTF. Physical evidence, such as drugs, firearms, counterfeit credit cards, <br />and related items may be released to the appropriate prosecuting agency. Records and <br />information obtained during the RFTF/VOTF fugitive investigation are ordinarily not evidence <br />and may not be released unless authorized by the Office of General Counsel (OGC). A <br />participating agency may retain copies of RFTF/VOTF investigative reports, and other <br />documents or materials, but they may be released only upon approval of the USMS (OGC), in <br />consultation with the local U.S. Attorney's Office, if and as applicable. If an applicable state law <br />mandates the release of records or reports pertaining to RFTFNOTF activities, those documents <br />may only be released after coordination with USMS OGC. <br />RFTFNOTF records and documents will be maintained in USMS electronic records and/or <br />paper case files. All investigative reporting will be prepared in compliance with existing USMS <br />policy and procedures utilizing USMS case management systems. Every effortshould be made <br />to document investigative activities on USMS forms, such as USM-11 s and USM- 210s. Reports <br />should never contain information related to sensitive USMS programs that are deemed privileged <br />and not subject to reporting. Task force statistics will be maintained in the USMS case <br />management systems. Statistics will be made available to any participating agency upon request. <br />To the greatest extent possible, all communications regarding USMS task force operations <br />should be conducted on USMS email accounts and USMS cellular devices (if issued to the TFO). <br />If required as per policy, a TFO may complete parent agency investigatory forms pertaining to <br />task force operations. However, copies of such investigatory forms will be provided to the task <br />force's USMS supervisory personnel for inclusion in the relevant USMS case file. The USMS <br />has an interest in reports documenting task force related investigations or activities prepared by a <br />TFO on their parent agency form, and any task force related email or text exchanges done on a <br />parent agency issued account or device. Accordingly, if a state open records request for task <br />force records held on parent agency electronic systems or devices or in paper files is received by <br />a TFO, and an applicable state records law mandates the disclosure of task force records, the <br />Rev. 03/2023 Page 4 of 8 <br />