According to the lawsuit, in June, the department announced its plan to change the city's body-worn camera policy. Part of the proposed policy would not allow officers to mute their body-worn cameras.

The policy was put into effect on June 21, according to Sgt. Mike Ernster.

According to the lawsuit, the previous policy allowed officers to mute cameras under certain circumstances where officers needed to discuss tactics for resolving a scene, techniques used for investigating a crime or tactics or techniques that are "not readily known to the public."

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In July, the St. Paul Police Federation sent a letter to Axtell objecting to the changes, stating the organization considered it be an unfair labor practice.

The St. Paul Police Federation argued in the letter that, "because muting body cameras has a direct impact on officer safety, and because Federation members possibly could be discipline for muting or not muting cameras in certain circumstances, the unilateral change directly affects its members' terms and conditions of employment."

Axtell responded to the letter saying the city disagreed with the St. Paul Police Federation's position and that it planned to move forward with the policy.

The lawsuit seeks a court determine the move constitutes unfair labor practices in violation of the Minnesota Public Employment Labor Relations Act, as well as enjoining the city from imposing the changes.

The suit also seeks an award of less than $50,000.

The City of St. Paul released the following statement:

"The City amended its Body Worn Camera policy to restrict audio muting once recording is activated. The City is not required to meet and negotiate on matters of inherent managerial policy, including those related to the City’s Body Worn Camera program."