The Ramsey County Sheriff's Office rolled out its new body camera program Friday, becoming the third largest law enforcement agency in the state to adopt the technology.
Cameras start rolling for deputies in the department's patrol division this weekend, and Sheriff Bob Fletcher has plans to equip all 400 deputies and corrections officers with the devices by year's end.
"These cameras are a symbol of trust," Fletcher said during a Friday afternoon news conference in Arden Hills. "This is a tool to help communication on the street, but to hold us accountable — and frankly, hold the community accountable."
Flanked by several deputies donning the chest-mounted cameras, Fletcher outlined a policy that largely mirrors that of the St. Paul Police Department. Protocols require officers to activate their cameras if they receive a call for service or are in a situation that could result in any sort of law-enforcement action. Deputies aren't obligated to run a constant live feed, he said, but battery life can withstand a full 12-hour shift.
Authorities have built in a 30-day grace period for employees to adapt to the system. After that, deputies could face disciplinary action if they fail to turn on their camera.
Deputy Lisa Daly says she's grateful for the transition period, because she can see herself getting distracted and forgetting to turn it on right away.
"We're all creatures of habit. It's gonna be difficult for someone like me to remember to hit the camera," she said.
The technology will have the most value during critical incidents in which officers use lethal force, Fletcher said. He presented the Sept. 15 fatal police shooting in St. Paul as an example.
