Supervisors approve purchase of body-worn cameras for El Dorado County Sheriffs Office
Submitted by paula on Sun, 05/16/2021 - 1:12pm
EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. - Sheriff John D'Agostini told the Board of Supervisors he is now comfortable with systems and procedures for a Body-Worn-Camera (BWC) system for his department.
The Sheriff told the Board there are benefits with BWC including a better transparency and accountability of deputies and the department, increased civility with higher rates of citizen accountability, quicker resolution of citizen complaints and lawsuits that allege excessive use of force and other forms of officer misconduct, corroborating evidence provided in arrests or prosecutions, and providing training opportunities for staff.
There are costs involved to outfit 175 deputies and sergeants as well as 80 vehicles with the cameras. Watchguard V300 Body Camera system would cost an estimated $1,319,597 and the Axon Body 3 Cameras total $2,148,784 with an estimated annual $750,000 to maintain them.
The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has had the Axon brand BWC for all 42 sworn employees since October 2020. Police Chief David Stevenson said their BWC system has been working great for them and they've had no issues. The South Lake Tahoe City Council approved $470,000 for the system last July which included 42 body cameras, 28 in-car cameras, and the associated cloud based storage. The funding also covered a new full-time IT person who would work on all IT-related items in the City, including the police department.
"We're very blessed in El Dorado County to have the support of the community that we do, and of the Supervisors," said Sheriff D'Agostini. "We are unique and work hard for the support."
"The body-worn camera system, I believe it's time," said the Sheriff. "It is time. It will exhonorate our deputies more than accuse them of anything, we see that already with our car videos."
The Supervisors unanimously approved the funding of the Watchguard V300 system and directed the County CAO Don Ashton to include funding from the General Fund budget.