[Marin County] San Rafael approves body-worn cameras for entire police force

November 3, 2014

Marin Independent Journal

By Megan Hansen

San Rafael plans to spend $45,160 to purchase 60 body-worn cameras for its police department that will capture both audio and video evidence so clear officers say it's like being at the scene.

The San Rafael City Council unanimously approved the expenditure Monday as part of its consent agenda. The pager-sized cameras are being purchased from Seattle-based VIEVU LLC, which specializes in wearable video cameras for both law enforcement and private professionals.

Police officers started testing four of the cameras in February, switching them between night and day shift employees to test lighting conditions. Motorcycle, bicycle and foot patrol officers also tested the technology. In June, 10 additional cameras were added to the department for further testing.

San Rafael police Capt. Glenn McElderry said the department will have 74 cameras once the additional cameras are purchased.

"That will put a camera on every sworn person from the chief on down and give us a few extras," he said.

These same cameras are also being used by the Novato Police Department, Oakland Police Department, Union City Police Department, Alameda County Sheriff's Department, Vallejo Police Department and the Fairfield Police Department. Similar body-worn cameras are also used by police in Tiburon and Belvedere.

Police said the devices can provide a record of an officer's encounters with a suspect, both to support criminal allegations and to refute potential use-of-force complaints. They also can prevent suspects from being hostile if they realize they are being recorded.

McElderry said the officers who tested them liked the cameras so much that requests poured in from others wanting to give them a try.

"The audio and video evidence is just incredible," he said. "You get video and audio as if you were standing right next to the officer."

In February the Marin County Civil Grand Jury, an independent watchdog group that investigates local government, released a report supporting the use of body-worn cameras.

"A modern law enforcement agency must take advantage of innovation that can reduce its liabilities and increase citizens' trust," the report said. "The Grand Jury believes that on-officer cameras will become an integral part of policing, now and in the future."

San Rafael's cameras come with management software that can be installed and used on a police department-controlled server. The software package requires no additional licensing or continuing maintenance fees and all the data are held locally.