7 Santa Cruz County Deputies Testing Body-Worn Cameras

PHOTO: Patch file photo of body-worn camera on law enforcement officer.

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Seven Santa Cruz County sheriff’s deputies are beginning a test of body-worn cameras today that could lead to the entire department’s patrol staff wearing them in the coming months, sheriff’s officials announced.

The seven deputies are participating in a beta test for the cameras that begins today and will last two months as the sheriff’s office looks into purchasing cameras for its entire patrol staff.

Greater scrutiny of use-of-force incidents around the country, such as in the high-profile deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner by police in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York, respectively, have led to a greater public demand for transparency in policing. President Barack Obama has advocated body cameras as one way to help build confidence in law enforcement in communities distrustful of the police.

Providing law enforcement officers with body-worn cameras seems to have reduced use-of-force incidents and citizen complaints in other departments, according to Santa Cruz County sheriff’s officials.

Oakland police, for example, have said use-of-force incidents have declined nearly 75 percent since implementing body-worn cameras.

“Maintaining the public’s trust is of the upmost importance to our entire office,” Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said in a statement. “Building a positive working relationship with the community will only help all of us come together to keep our county safe.”

--Bay City News

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