Officer-Worn Body Cameras To Be Rolled Out By Suffolk Police

HAUPPAUGE, NY — The first phase of body-worn cameras for Suffolk police officers was announced on Thursday by Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison.

The county's Police Reform Plan proposed that body-worn cameras be used as standard police equipment for all officers who engage with the public while on the job in an effort to be transparent and accountable, Bellone said. He said body cameras are one of the largest reforms in the county's plan.

"There is no denying that cameras change everything by providing video and audio that allows an event to be independently verified," Bellone said. "Our body-worn camera program will ensure that we are holding our officers to the highest standards, highlighting the good police work we know our officers are doing on a daily basis, and ensuring that everyone is treated justly and fairly. In short, this body-worn camera program will protect our officers, ensure accountability, and build upon the public trust. That is a win-win-win scenario."

Bellone included $24 million over a five-year period in the county's capital budget for the purchase of the cameras, implementation of the program and maintenance of the body-worn cameras and data systems. The Suffolk County Legislature is scheduled to vote on the appropriation of the first $8 million for the program on Tuesday.

The county reached a five-year, $22.4 million agreement with Axon Enterprise for the body cameras, according to Bellone. The purchase covers the cameras, implementation of the program, and maintenance of the cameras and data.

"There's no doubt that the use of body cameras will increase transparency and accountability in policing," Bellone said. "Policing is a sacred duty. The deployment of these cameras, in conjunction with all of the other reforms, will help deepen trust in our communities that we know is so essential to effective policing."

Beginning in July, approximately 130 officers in the Seventh Precinct will be equipped with body-worn cameras. Harrison said the East End is a good place to pilot the program, as it has the least amount of police officers and vehicles, as well as its close proximity to department headquarters.

The second deployment of the body camera program is slated for the end of summer, when roughly 1,600 officers in the county will be equipped with the cameras. There are around 2,500 officers in the department, according to Harrison.

Harrison said he is "excited" about the body-worn camera rollout.

"It's going to assist in recording and documenting to help strengthen prosecution," Harrison said. "It's going to be able to tell the true narrative of an incident between the men and women of the Suffolk County Police Department and the community that we are here to protect and serve."

Police camera footage can be used to review critical incidents and for training purposes, the commissioner said.

"This is important," Harrison said. "It is going to encourage respectful interactions between the police officers and the public. Last but not least, and I think I capitalize on talking about this every single time I'm at a podium: officer safety. The body-worn cameras are going to definitely help officer safety going into the future."

Officers are due to get four hours of training on policy and procedural instructions, along with information on the equipment and hardware. Investigators and supervisors will also get two hours of training from Axon.

The recent graduating class of the Suffolk County Police Department received body-worn camera training at the academy, which is now a standard in the curriculum.

Bellone believes that police-worn body cameras will create a lasting legacy in Suffolk County and serve as a model for other counties in New York state and beyond.

"This is a defining time for the future of policing, not only here, but all across the country," Bellone said. "I'm grateful for all of those who came to the table, and everyone who took part in the reform process, because they were tackling an incredibly tough challenge."