Placer Sheriff's Office receives $580K for body camera program

The Placer County Sheriff's Office has been awarded a $580,000 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant for body-worn cameras. According to the Sheriff's Office, the funding was secured with the assistance of Congressman Doug LaMalfa through a community grants program of the 2022 fiscal year Appropriations Bill. Placer County Supervisors previously approved a three-year program for body-worn cameras on April 27, 2021. "This is a good use of tax dollars because it makes our law enforcement's personnel jobs easier, simpler, even probably less risky due to some of the things you have to deal with, so we're glad to help," LaMalfa said during a Monday news conference announcing the funding. Said Placer County Board Chair and District 5 Supervisor Cindy Gustafson, "We support our deputies through pay and equipment and the best working conditions we can absolutely find to help support their cause when they're out there protecting our citizens, their properties, their families and their communities. We want to give them all that we can and make sure that they can do their jobs safely and professionally." According to Placer County Sheriff Devon Bell, implementing body cameras has been his priority since 2017, and the funding, along with the supervisors' commitment, will assist the department with moving forward with the program. The cameras will be worn by deputies in the field, correctional officers at jail facilities and court bailiffs. Bell said the cameras will serve as a vital tool to provide transparency to the community and ensure the safety of the community and Sheriff's Office staff. "Over the last 30 years, I have seen the confidence in law enforcement erode," Bell said. "This is a way for us to bolster that erosion and be able to present the facts as they present themselves on the screen." According to the Sheriff's Office, the program used by the body cameras will also be integrated into the camera system in patrol vehicles. Bell confirmed there is not an exact timeline for when the cameras will be online but noted, "It will be as soon as practical, given some of the supply issues."