The Monterey County Sheriff's Office Body Worn Camera Implementation / Deployment.

A large sheriff’s office that encompasses more than 3,700 square miles of land within its jurisdiction
and staffs a county correctional facility that houses approximately 1,000 inmates seeks grant assistance
in purchasing BWCs cameras. An intensive BWC program is in the process of being designed and
implemented that would provide almost 300 sworn employees with BWCs. They believe that utilizing
BWCs will assist in showing agency transparency, enhance safety, deter crimes and inappropriate
behavior, and provide training opportunities. The agency also plans on community outreach and
stakeholder input when designing policy and implementing procedure regarding BWCs.
The agency patrols a multitude of topographies, including agricultural land, coastline, and
mountainous regions. Their highways are a thoroughfare for the tourists and seasonal agricultural and
hospitality workers that visit each season. They also host several large-scale international events each
year.
The implementation of a BWC program is expected to make our diverse communities and tourists feel
safer and promote accountability and progressiveness within the agency. After developing a policy and
procedure for the use of BWCs, they will expect that their deputies utilize the BWCs during all
enforcement contacts and during investigations, to capture video evidence and help provide context
during these interactions. The agency also believes that BWCs will assist in the corrections bureau by
making the deputies and the inmates safer and feel more secure, as well as documenting criminal
activity within the facility.
They plan on working closely with the other police departments within the county, and with the district
attorney’s office and local federal agencies, to assist with investigations and provide the digital media
evidence for stronger prosecutions. With numerous goals and objectives, they expect a BWC program
to show a measured decrease in use of force incidents and citizen complaints, a higher conviction rate
of crimes, more effective training, and stronger community outreach and positive citizen interactions.