Body cameras being tested in the jail

A couple of years ago we tested the use of body cameras with our deputies in the Patrol Division. After a brief testing period with some of the deputes, we decided to make the body camera part of the standard issue equipment for each deputy. Since that time, we have continued to see the benefits of having incidents on camera when deputies respond to calls.

The first time I received a complaint after deploying the body cameras, was from someone being arrested that had all kinds of allegations they wanted to make against the deputy. Before the use of body cameras, this would have been a lot longer of a process, as we would have started an internal investigation, questioned all parties involved and tried to determine if there was any merit to the allegation. In this case however, we now had the body camera footage to review. The camera footage started helping even before we reviewed it.

When I informed our newest customer that we could just pull up the footage and watch it, he changed his mind and said he did not want to file a complaint. I told him that I would still watch the footage and he then became very upset and repeatedly told us he was sorry and did not want to cause any trouble.

When we reviewed the footage, we found the deputy was very polite, even referring to the suspect as “sir” when speaking to him. There were no confrontations and even the person being arrested was very polite and calm. The video showed the incident from before the deputy arrived while he driving to the scene until after the deputy left the jail. There was no question about what may or may not have taken place on the call.

Body cameras not only prove to be a good addition to the police report during incidents, they also provide excellent training value for deputies and supervisors who can review the incident at a later time. We have several training classes that now use footage from our deputy’s body cameras, allowing other deputies and jail staff the chance to see incidents for themselves instead of reading about what happened at a call.

With the success of the body camera in the patrol division, we have now purchased additional cameras to begin testing in our jail. Although body cameras have not yet become a common item issued in most jails, we are always testing new methods of improving the professional and functional performance of the Sheriff’s Office.

This month we will began the testing phase of the program in our jail with several detention officers being chosen to participate in the program. Although the jail is already equipped with video surveillance, the addition of a body camera that can capture sound, and an alternate view when contact is made with the inmates could provide us with the same benefits we are seeing with the cameras worn by the deputies.