Body Worn Cameras Go Live Aug. 15 For Howard County Officers

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The body worn camera program will go live Aug. 15 for Howard County police officers. The program includes cameras for 300 officers, 54 sheriff's deputies, staffing and other technical needs.

Uniformed Howard County Police Department officers who regularly interact with members of the public are required to wear and operate body worn cameras, including patrol, community outreach, school resource officers, traffic investigations and tactical.

Cameras will be automatically activated every time an officer turns on emergency equipment in a patrol car, turns on a Taser or removes a firearm from its holster. Vehicles and holsters are being equipped with sensors to ensure cameras are immediately activated in these situations. Officers will activate BWCs for legitimate law enforcement purposes only. The HCPD has compiled additional frequently asked questions about the body worn camera program online.

“After years of planning, it is gratifying to reach the point where we are fully implementing a program that will bring immediate benefits to our officers and our community,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said at a news conference. “This camera program is a critical step toward increased transparency and accountability in Howard County.”

"This project is a reflection of the county’s commitment to the outstanding relationships of trust and transparency our police department has long-established with the community," added Howard County Police Chief Gregory Der. "It is always our goal to offer the best possible practices in law enforcement to the Howard County community. Body cameras will now be another tool to help us achieve that. We remain committed to respecting and protecting all of the people we serve."

The State’s Attorney Office has hired 15 new positions to manage the workload for cases with video footage out of the approximately 11,000 total cases handled by the office. The office has 30 days from when the defendant has been formally advised of the charges being brought against them or from when their defense counsel enters their appearance on the defendant’s behalf to provide discovery on any information: to be used in court to prove guilt; that may show the innocence of the accused; or undermines the credibility of their witnesses.

In cases that are handled by the State’s Attorney’s Office, footage from every responding officer must be reviewed and analyzed, redacted, tagged for certain moments, compared to paper police reports, used in court and stored for as required by law. The program costs include training for new staff members and technical needs to store and review footage.

“Our office has been working diligently, over the last eight months, to hire a new unit and conduct extensive training in preparation for the launch of the body-worn camera program,” Maryland State’s Attorney Rich Gibson said. “We hope that as we begin to employ this new technology, the public will discover that BWC’s are not only helpful in viewing law enforcement’s interaction with the public, but also serve as an invaluable tool, from an evidence perspective, in prosecuting a case and securing a conviction.”

“The Sheriff’s Office has worked hard to ensure that our deputies are trained and the necessary equipment is ready,” added Howard County Sheriff Marcus Harris. “Body worn cameras are going to provide a level of transparency that will help build trust between law enforcement and the community.”