The board approved a motion that asks Sheriff Jim McDonnell and his staff to prepare a plan within four months on how to equip all patrol deputies with the technology.
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman, who oversees the Sheriff’s Department, said cameras would help deputies do their jobs with confidence, record their actions and increase accountability. In 2014, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department started a volunteer program initiated to test body-worn camera systems in four areas in the county. The department allows deputies to use privately purchased body-worn cameras as well.
“Body worn cameras are an absolute critical piece of sheriff’ reform today,” Huntsman said. “I think it’s a win-win.”
Supervisor Hilda Solis, who co-introduced the motion with Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, said the board’s overall agreement with the motion shows a commitment to investing in body worn cameras and “to heal tension between law enforcement and the community.”
Input on the plan would come from the county’s District Attorney, Public Defender, Alternate Public Defender, Office of Inspector General and LA County Sheriff’s departments.
“Body worn cameras protect our officers and members of the public, and they must be implemented without delay while utilizing best practices,” Solis said.
“Concern about police use of force is very high. We need to better address allegations of misconduct and increase public trust of law enforcement. I believe use of body-worn cameras will help move us in that direction,” Kuehl added.
Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas agreed, saying in light of the shooting death by police of Philando Castile, 32, last week in suburban St. Paul, Minn., body cameras would also increase transparency.
“The key is that we roll this out with expediency,” Ridley-Thomas said, but added the cameras should be of high quality. He also made an amendment to the body-worn camera motion that called for establishing a Countywide Digital Evidence Management System to manage all types of digital evidences, including videos generated by body-worn cameras.
©2016 the Daily News (Los Angeles). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
