Marin County Sheriff's Personnel Don Body-Worn Cameras

MARIN COUNTY, CA — The Marin County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday that certain members of its force will now don body-worn cameras as part of their daily uniforms. Between Monday and Wednesday, 85 cameras were introduced into the patrol environment, according to a news release.

Below is MCSO's statement to the community regarding its use of the cameras:

"The Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement services to all of the unincorporated communities across Marin County. These areas span the gamut from rural and sparsely populated ranching communities to large urban centers providing a mix of residential and commercial developments. The kinds of daily interactions taking place between our deputies and the communities we serve help form the basis of our community relationship that’s become so critical in providing effective police service to a populace who’s grown increasingly wary of the role law enforcement plays in their lives. Community trust is the bellwether by which law enforcement agencies today measure their overall effectiveness and confirm specific policing strategies are meeting the needs of the neighborhoods/communities they serve.

"One way to enhance that trust is to ensure transparency and accountability in law enforcement operations, something that was aided by the integration of 85 body worn cameras (BWCs) into the patrol environment over the course of September 19, 2016 through September 21, 2016. BWCs help promote legitimacy and a sense of procedural justice communities have increasingly come to expect of their law enforcement officers. They enhance accountability and reduce instances of conflict and/or hostility because all parties to an interaction are aware their conduct is being recorded. BWC recordings offer tangible benefits to investigators, prosecutors, and juries alike providing detailed, accurate, and compelling evidence recorded in real time that does not require additional interpretation or explanation to understand."

Image via Marin County Sheriff's Office