After nearly two years of research, purchasing, policy implementation & training, Sheriff Michael A. Helmig has announced the roll out of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department Body Worn Camera project.
“While it took a little longer than I originally anticipated, the buy-in from the deputies’ and public’s perception over the past couple of months reaffirmed by belief that it was time to do this”, Helmig said. “It seems the only people objecting to it are the ones violating the law.”
The search started with finding the right product with the appropriate technical support. The review team evaluated a number of vendors/cameras narrowing the decision to the few that best recorded what the deputy was actually able to discern. In other words, the Department steered away from a wide angle (greater than 120˚) or a light gathering lens that will provide a more complete (albeit adulterated) view than what the deputy can observe with his/her naked eye.
The reasoning behind this decision is to put the viewer in the deputy’s shoes as they watch the video. The Department opted for the Wolfcom Vision Body Camera (www.wolfcomusa.com), the world’s smallest, lightest, secure, and most versatile law enforcement body camera in the market today.
The review team then delved into developing the policy & procedure and the record retention schedules required for the administration of the program. In essence, deputies will record all public interactions.
Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule but for the most part, if you come in contact with a Boone County Sheriff’s uniformed deputy, the encounter will be recorded. Afterwards the deputy will “tag” the video indicating the type of law enforcement response it falls under and whether it is evidentiary or non-evidentiary.
Those factors determine how long the video is maintained.
Before a video can be released to the public it has to be reviewed to determine if there are privacy issues involved and how to redact (remove or blur) those portions and also mute any audio for the same type concerns. The department is currently in the process of purchasing computer equipment capable of running specialized software and reviewing those particular software solutions available that fit its needs.
“This has been quite an undertaking for my staff”, Helmig said. “But one that has been well worth the time and effort. We have always worked to sustain an open, transparent relationship with our customers and this is simply one more step in that direction.”
Boone County Sheriff’s Department