Body Worn Cameras for Allen County Sheriff's Department

Increasing police accountability and transparency are topics at the forefront regarding law enforcement today. Applied cutting-edge technology, such as BWCs, is a solution that can demonstrate a police agency's willingness to be transparent in and accountable for its service delivery. Trust between law enforcement agencies and the people they protect and serve is an essential key to the stability of our communities, the integrity of our criminal justice system, and the safe and effective delivery of police services. The Allen County Sheriff's Office's goals are:

1.             Deploy BWCs to all officers who regularly interact with the public in enforcement capacities.

2.             Improve quality public service and promote the community's perception of the Allen County Sheriff's Office's legitimacy, sense of fairness, and procedural justice.

3.             Management of digital multi-media (DME) to ensure identification, retention, and accessibility of DME that is relevant to enforcement activities and the conduct of Allen County Sheriff's Office officers.

4.             Incorporate the DWC program into ACSO's policy and training development.

5.             Implement strong policies to ensure proper and credible use of BWCs.

6.             Ensure the BWC program remains technologically current and financially sustainable.

Allen County Sheriff's Office will effectively utilize partnerships to ensure success. This includes critical partnerships with the County government, the County Attorney, the Scottsville Police Department, and the School District. Most significantly, it consists of a strong partnership with the community, as represented by various community businesses, non-profits, and recovery programs.

The deliverables for the Allen County Sheriff's Office BWC program include:

1.             Deployment of BWCs to ACSO officers.

2.             A current and reliable digital technology infrastructure.

3.             New policies and training programs for BWC use.

Successful implementation of the BWC program will result in an excellent program that other jurisdictions can model. It will also produce positive outcomes for Allen County, including the project goals. Additionally, the Allen County Sheriff's Office's responsiveness to the community in making this program a reality will enhance our improving police-community partnership as we move forward.