(WWJ) The Oakland County Board of Commissioners has approved a resolution to suit up Oakland County Sheriff's deputies with body cameras.
The resolution will forward the plan to spend $3.1 million over the next five years for the purchase and maintenance of 1,000 cameras.
The OCSO is Michigan's third-largest law enforcement agency, behind the Michigan State Police and Detroit Police Department.
"Body-worn cameras bring additional state-of-the-art policing techniques to the sheriff's office, and they will go a long way in improving trust between officers and the public," said Commissioner Janet Jackson (D-Southfield), who sponsored the resolution. "Cameras don't lie, and through this initiative we're demonstrating that we care about the safety of everyone in the community, including our residents and deputies. It will truly help ensure justice for all."
The commission says law enforcement agencies across the U.S. are using body-worn cameras to "improve evidentiary outcomes, increase the safety of law enforcement officials and residents, and improve interactions between officers and the public" ... offering extra protection for officers in the courtroom and increased transparency for the public.
"The public expects us to use body cameras, our communities and officers deserve it, and transparency requires it," added Board Chairman David Woodward (D-Royal Oak), in a statement. "Oakland County supports implementing body-worn cameras, and we're very enthusiastically moving forward to put this in place as soon as possible."
Motorola Solutions Inc. has been selected to be the vendor for the project. Oakland County will continue to seek additional grant funding to help offset the costs.
