Direct answer: If police ask for dash cam footage, save the original clip immediately, stop it from being overwritten, make a backup, and share a clear copy with the time, date, and location. Do not keep driving for days assuming the file will still be there. Dash cams loop-record by design, which means older footage can be replaced once the memory card fills up.
That is the practical lesson behind a recent Edmonton Police Service appeal for dashcam and security footage, covered in this Edmonton Journal report on the police appeal, after a north Edmonton shooting investigation. Police asked for video from April 24, 2026, between 9:45 PM and 11:45 PM near 78 Street and 173 Avenue in Schonsee, especially footage showing a dark-coloured pickup truck.
This guide is not legal advice. It is a practical footage-preservation guide for drivers who want to help police, insurance, or their own memory without accidentally losing the evidence.
What to do first when police ask for dash cam footage
Protect the original file before loop recording overwrites it. If the incident just happened, pull over somewhere safe and press your dash cam's emergency save button if it has one. Many dash cams have an event lock button, emergency recording button, or app-based save option that moves the file into a protected folder.
If you are already home, remove the microSD card before continuing to drive. Put it somewhere safe, then make a copy on your computer, phone, or external drive. Keep the original file untouched whenever possible. If you need to trim a clip for easier viewing, do that only after you have saved the full original first.
Include the right context
When you share footage with police, include the useful context: the date, approximate time, location, direction of travel, your vehicle position, whether your dash cam time is accurate, and whether GPS data is embedded.
Quick rule: save first, share second
Do not keep driving on the same memory card if the clip matters. Save the original file, make a backup, then send a clear copy through the police department's requested channel.
If police ask for the full clip, send the full clip. Do not edit out the seconds before or after the incident unless they specifically ask for a shorter version. The lead-up often matters, including lane position, traffic lights, vehicle movement, weather, and nearby traffic.
The main rule is simple: preserve first, share second, and keep a backup.
Why dash cam footage matters in police appeals
A nearby driver may capture the missing piece of an investigation timeline. Security cameras can be too far away, blocked, pointed at the wrong angle, or unavailable. A dash cam passing through the area can capture the road exactly when investigators need it.
In the Edmonton case, investigators asked for video that may show a dark-coloured truck travelling along 173 Avenue or southbound on 78 Street from 173 Avenue. Your footage does not always need to show the main incident to matter. Sometimes the useful clip shows the suspect vehicle before or after, a partial plate, a direction of travel, or a timestamp that supports the timeline.
Useful footage is not always dramatic
Useful footage may include a vehicle passing through an intersection, a partial licence plate, a make or model, a direction of travel, road conditions, lighting, weather, GPS time, or other witness vehicles investigators may want to identify later.
That is why you should not delete a clip just because it does not look dramatic. Investigators may be looking for context, not only the moment something happened. Memory gets messy. Video, when preserved properly, gives police and insurance something more concrete to work with.
What dash cam setup makes footage useful as evidence?
The best evidence setup records clearly, saves reliably, and lets you retrieve clips before they are overwritten. Resolution matters, but it is not the only thing. Evidence quality comes from the full setup: camera clarity, storage, GPS, parking mode, power, and reliability.
Video clarity
A blurry camera may prove that something happened, but a sharp camera is far more useful for identifying vehicles, signs, lane positions, and motion. For modern evidence, look for 4K UHD or 2K QHD recording, good night performance, HDR, and front-and-rear coverage when possible.
Storage and file health
Storage matters more than most people think. A larger, high-endurance microSD card gives you more recording time before loop recording replaces older files. If police contact you hours or days after an incident, storage capacity can decide whether the clip is still there.
GPS and timestamps
GPS can help confirm date, time, speed, and location. If your dash cam clock is wrong, say so when you submit the footage. A wrong timestamp does not automatically make the clip useless, but it does need context.
Parking mode
Parking mode matters when the incident happens while your vehicle is parked. A proper parking-mode setup can record impact, motion, or buffered clips while the vehicle is off. This is especially useful for parking lot hit-and-runs, vandalism, theft attempts, and overnight incidents.
For more setup help, use the Dash Cam Installation Hub, the hardwiring guide, or the add-a-fuse setup guide.
Best BlackboxMyCar dash cam options for evidence-minded drivers
The right dash cam depends on the kind of footage you need to preserve. For police footage requests, the strongest setups usually combine clear front video, rear or cabin coverage where needed, reliable storage, and parking-mode support.
BlackVue Elite 10 2CH
Best for connected evidence. The BlackVue Elite 10 2CH gives you dual 4K UHD coverage, Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, BlackVue Cloud support, built-in GPS and Wi-Fi, HDR front recording, and ultra-low-power parking mode.
This is the premium pick when you want front-and-rear clarity plus connected features that make clip access easier.
VIOFO A329S 3CH
Best for three-channel coverage. The VIOFO A329S records 4K UHD front, 2K QHD rear, and 2K QHD interior footage with triple Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, Wi-Fi 6, GPS, voice control, parking mode support, and SSD storage up to 4TB.
This is a strong fit for rideshare, family vehicles, work vehicles, and drivers who want more than the road ahead captured.
Thinkware U3000 Pro 2CH
Best for parking-mode protection. The Thinkware U3000 Pro 2CH combines 4K UHD front and 2K QHD rear recording, Sony STARVIS 2 sensors, HDR, dual radar parking surveillance, built-in GPS, 5GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth pairing, and an included OBD-II cable.
This is the evidence-minded reference for drivers who care about parked protection as much as driving footage.
If you are still choosing a setup, start with the use case. For a daily commuter, a 2-channel dash cam is usually the sweet spot. For rideshare or shared vehicles, 3-channel coverage makes more sense. For parked-hit-and-run protection, pair parking mode with a proper install and a dedicated battery pack like the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8.
Your next step: make sure the footage is there when you need it
If police ask for footage, act fast. Save the original clip, back it up, write down the time and location, and share a clear copy through the investigating officer or police department's requested channel.
The footage only helps if it still exists
A premium dash cam setup is not just about prettier video. It is about clear footage, reliable storage, correct timestamps, parking-mode power, and fast retrieval when police or insurance need proof.
If you are checking your own setup now, look for the weak point: can you quickly find footage, is your microSD card healthy, is your dash cam clock accurate, does it capture useful details at night, and does parking mode actually work when the vehicle is off?
If the answer is no, fix that before the next incident. Dash cam footage is only useful if it exists, is clear, and can be retrieved in time. That is the real reason to buy a premium dash cam from BlackboxMyCar: better evidence when it counts, not just a nicer camera on the windshield.
Shop dash cams at BlackboxMyCar, browse the Best Dash Cams of 2026, or compare current options from BlackVue, Thinkware, and VIOFO.
FAQ
Can police ask for my dash cam footage?
Yes. Police can ask drivers and nearby residents to share dash cam or security footage that may help an investigation. If you are unsure what to provide, ask the investigating officer how they want the file submitted and whether they need the full clip.
Should I edit dash cam footage before sending it to police?
No. Keep the original file and avoid trimming the only copy. You can create a shorter copy if requested, but preserve the full clip before and after the incident so police have context.
How do I stop dash cam footage from being overwritten?
Lock the event file if your dash cam allows it, stop driving with the same card if the footage matters, remove the microSD card when safe, and back the file up to a phone, computer, cloud drive, or external drive.
What dash cam feature helps most with police footage requests?
Clear video is the first priority, but the full setup matters. Look for 4K UHD or strong 2K QHD recording, GPS, reliable storage, parking mode, and a clean install that keeps the camera powered and aimed properly.
Is parking mode worth it for evidence?
Yes. Parking mode can record impact, motion, or buffered clips while the vehicle is off, which can be critical for hit-and-runs and vandalism. For help choosing the right setup, contact BlackboxMyCar.
Source references:
- Edmonton Police Service: Police seek video related to north Edmonton shooting
- Edmonton Journal: Edmonton police appeal for dashcam footage in shooting investigation