Agenda 03-21-2017 - 8-b - 2016 Amendment to County Sheriff’s Office - Records Retention and Disposition Schedule

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11 3 Sheriff Blackwood said he is not ready to accept body cameras yet, but he will continue to talk and work with the BOCC. Chair McKee asked if the in-car cameras are forward or forward and rear looking, and if the body cameras are on the vest. Sheriff Blackwood said there are many configurations, and the body camera can be on the eyepiece, which is the most optimal location for a body camera. He said the car cameras are forward looking, but can also view someone being transported in the back of a vehicle. Commissioner Burroughs said she wanted to know more about costs. Sheriff Blackwood said the costs of the cameras are between $20 and $60 each, with packaging including 5-year warranties and replacement cameras. He said 20 cameras would be $44,588, and 60 cameras would be $134,660. Sheriff Blackwood said unlimited cloud is very expensive, with a retention schedule from 30 days up to 20 years. He said the Sheriff Association is undecided as to whether the State should be allowed to set standards regarding the issue of equipment. He said this is not done with firearms, uniforms, cars, etc. Sheriff Blackwood said the camera issue is a big one, and the legislation has to be re- written. Commissioner Burroughs asked if the retention timeframes are best practices only. Sheriff Blackwood said yes. He said the cost for unlimited cloud for 20 cameras, for one year would be $105,800, and for 60 cameras would be $315,560. Commissioner Burroughs said the first year would be about $500,000, and the most costs come with the storage. Sheriff Blackwood said yes. Commissioner Jacobs thanked the Sheriff for sharing his honest thoughts. He said the issue of cost is more troubling than the actual concept of the body cameras, and it is probably too late since the public will expect law enforcement to have body cameras. Commissioner Jacobs said he would encourage the Sheriff to think this through, but he believes it is likely unavoidable. Sheriff Blackwood said he knows the legislation will probably require body cameras. Commissioner Jacobs said long term it will be to the benefit for law enforcement to have body cameras. Sheriff Blackwood said there are more reasons to have them than not. Commissioner Pelissier asked if anything else is being considered to build and/or keep trust between the community and law enforcement. Sheriff Blackwood said that is the purpose of the community discussions. Commissioner Rich said she is conflicted with the General Assembly saying what can and cannot be done. Sheriff Blackwood said the mechanism is there to have footage released, it just requires a court order. Commissioner Rich said if and when cameras are used, she wanted to make sure the best equipment is secured. Commissioner Price said she respected the Sheriff and his point of view, but there is always the potential for an officer(s) that probably should never have been hired. She said for the safety of citizens, and to protect their own officers, body cameras are needed. Commissioner Dorosin said this is a national issue of trust/distrust. He said it is critical to have body cameras/video as another evidentiary tool. He said there is a racial component to this discussion as well. He wanted to know if it is the will of this Board to have these cameras, and what needs to be done to address the Sheriff's concerns.