Rancho Santa Margarita Deputies Receive Body Cameras Monday

Rancho Santa Margarita CA

16 November, 2021

2:34 PM

Description

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA — All Rancho Santa Margarita deputies will start patrolling the community with an added tool starting Monday. The Orange County Sheriff's Department announced the use of body-worn cameras on Rancho Santa Margarita deputies Monday afternoon, which is the latest phase in a program designed to issue all patrol personnel body-worn cameras by the end of next year. This new addition comes soon after San Clemente was deemed the first south patrol city to incorporate body-worn cameras, the OCSD said. The OC Register reported in October that Yorba Linda OCSD deputies were among the first in the department to receive body-worn cameras. "Rancho Santa Margarita is among eight OC Sheriff patrol areas who now have deputies equipped with cameras to provide for greater transparency and a greater perspective into the work of patrol operations," An OCSD Spokesperson wrote on Facebook. "We are excited for this program and the positive impact it will have on our community." Along with body-worn cameras, OC Sheriff patrol units will also receive an upgrade to their in-car camera systems, which will now record in high definition. The $12.7 million body-worn camera program was approved by the county's Board of Supervisors in July, the OC Register reported. The funding for the program is spread out over five years.