How to Request Bodycam Footage in South Dakota

A practical, jurisdiction-specific walkthrough for filing a public-records request for police body-worn camera video in South Dakota (SD). This guide is informational and not legal advice.

Governing law

South Dakota Sunshine Law (SDCL § 1-27-1)

Who to send your request to

Agency records officer. If the incident involved multiple agencies (city PD plus state troopers plus sheriff), file parallel requests with each.

What to include in the request

The exact date, approximate time window, and location of the incident.
The case, incident, or CAD number if you have it.
Names or badge numbers of involved officers if known.
A clear statement invoking the state's public-records statute.
Your preferred delivery format (electronic file, DVD, thumb drive).
A fee ceiling — e.g. "please contact me before incurring charges above $25."

Fees

Actual cost of duplication

Response timeline

10 business days

If your request is denied

Office of Hearing Examiners, then circuit court. Ask for the specific statutory exemption cited; boilerplate "ongoing investigation" denials are frequently reversed on appeal.