Mission Viejo Deputies Receive Body Cameras Monday

MISSION VIEJO, CA — All Mission Viejo deputies began patrolling the community with an added tool Monday. The Orange County Sheriff's Department announced the use of body-worn cameras on Mission Viejo deputies Monday afternoon, which is the latest phase in a program designed to issue all patrol personnel body-worn cameras by the end of next year.

This new addition comes soon after San Clemente was deemed the first south patrol city to incorporate body-worn cameras, the OCSD said. The OC Register reported in October that Yorba Linda OCSD deputies were among the first in the department to receive body-worn cameras.

"Mission Viejo is among eight patrol areas covered by the Sheriff’s Department that now have body-worn cameras," An OCSD Spokesperson wrote on Facebook. "We are excited to use these new tools and look forward to the added transparency they will provide."

Along with body-worn cameras, OC Sheriff patrol units will also receive an upgrade to their in-car camera systems, which will now record in high definition.

The $12.7 million body-worn camera program was approved by the county's Board of Supervisors in July, the OC Register reported. The funding for the program is spread out over five years.