The Sherburne County Sheriff’s Dept. may soon be using body cameras.

 

Tuesday at a workshop meeting withthe county board, Capt. Bob Stangler spoke about the policy the Sheriff’s department is proposing for use of the cameras.

 

Their research began on body cameras in January of 2017, said Stangler. The department had presentations on four different systems and chose the Vista by Watchguard Video. 

 

Watchguard is the largest manufacturer of law enforcement video camera systems. They also supply in-car cameras. 

 

Stangler said they liked the product and have already installed Watchguard in-car cameras on the squad cars.

 

The Vista body camera is small, about one inch by one inch, said Stangler. It’s attached to a small DVR mounted on the officer. It can work in conjunction with the in-car camera.

 

They also liked other features of the camera, said Stangler: high-resolution digital recording and CD quality audio. It’s easy to use - one touch on the DVR starts the recording, and it records whenever the overhead lights are turned on. 

 

“We work 12-hour shifts, and it allows us to record all 12 hours,” he said.

 

The policy requires that the camera be activated when officers will be involved in, or witness a pursuit, search, seizure, arrest, use of force, adversarial contact and other activities likely to yield evidence.

 

They do not have to activate their cameras when it would be unsafe, impossible, or impractical to do so.

 

“But if they decide not to activate their cameras or turn it off midway through, they’re going to have to document why,”  said Stangler.

 

Officers have discretion not to record general citizen contacts. But once activated, the camera should remain operating until the conclusion of the incident or encounter.

 

Stangler said the use of body cameras will help with accountability, proof in criminal cases, protection from false accusations and allows the officer to report and testify more accurately.

 

“It’s easy to see emotions rather than try to glean this from reading a report,” he said. “A suspect is not going to be able to go back and claim they didn’t say something. You’re going to be able to see (and hear) what the officer does.”

 

Sheriff Joel Brott said the response from the department has been favorable.

 

“It’s not much different than the in-car camera,” he said. “That already records audio.”

 

Brott said the cameras are already available to the department.

 

The next step is to hold a public hearing to approve the camera policy, which is expected to be in May.