Police Body Cameras Roll Out Oct. 5 If Howard Co. Council OKs

Ellicott City MD

23 August, 2021

3:42 PM

Description

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — If funding can be secured, Howard County's body-worn camera program for police officers will be rolled out starting Oct. 5 and be implemented ahead of the 2023 Maryland General Assembly mandate. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said Monday he plans to file a budget amendment Thursday releasing county funding from contingency in the fiscal year 2022 operating budget for Howard County's body-worn camera program. If the budget amendment is approved by the County Council, Ball plans to use $1.6 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support the cost. "Through the use of federal funding, we can fund our body-worn camera program immediately following Council approval of our budget amendment," Ball said. "This essential program can finally move forward and provide another layer of safety and security for our officers and our community. I am confident that the usage of body-worn cameras will generate a mutually beneficial relationship that will serve our officers and our residents while upholding transparency and justice." Following the filing of the county executive's proposed budget, the state-mandated maintenance of effort funding level for the school system was significantly higher than anticipated, Ball noted, prompting adjustments to the proposed budget. At the conclusion of the budget process, the Howard County Council voted to place all remaining funding proposed for the body-worn camera program into contingency. Combined with the $1 million in preliminary funding for equipment and licensing set aside during the fiscal year 2022 budget cycle and the nearly $500,000 in contingency, the additional $1.6 million will go towards fully funding this program immediately following Council approval of Ball's budget amendment. This total of $3.1 million in funding will go toward: Hiring 26 essential positions across the police department, state's attorney's office and sheriff's office;600 cameras for 300 HCPD officers;Expanded storage capacity and acquiring necessary software; Procuring additional equipment for deputies within the sheriff's department. "Police accountability is a fundamental tenet of our agency and these new body-worn cameras will contribute to that commitment," Howard County Police Chief Lisa Myers said. "We look forward to continuing the outstanding relationships of trust and transparency our police department has long-established with the community.""I am an advocate for body-worn cameras," Howard County Sheriff Marcus Harris added. "I believe that the implementation of body-worn cameras is good for the citizens of Howard County because it builds trust and provides transparency between law enforcement and the community that we serve."