The Kitsap County Board of Commissioners approved a contract Dec. 4, authorizing Kitsap County Sheriff John Gese to purchase and deploy body-worn and in-vehicle cameras for Kitsap County Sheriff’s Deputies. Deployment of the cameras and training with the new state-of-the-art cameras begins in early 2024.
“I am pleased that funding was provided allowing us to move forward on this important project of equipping our deputies with body-worn and in-car cameras,” said Sheriff Gese after the contract was approved.
“It was a collaborative effort with our county commissioners and deputies, who support these efforts. This is a significant step in our goals to provide transparent and accountable public services and allows us to make a significant technological step forward for evidence collection and documentation of our work.”
The contract was signed with Axon, a company which is a major manufacturer of police camera systems currently used by other Kitsap County law enforcement agencies. The $4.2 million, five-year contract will equip each commissioned deputy with a body-worn camera and outfit all vehicles used for patrol with a camera that focuses on both the forward view of the vehicle and the rear seat. The contract also allows the Sheriff’s Office to purchase the latest camera system that provides high-quality video and audio.
The system is designed for the body-worn cameras and vehicle cameras to work in tandem and along with the patrol vehicle. The system also includes the latest technology in downloading the digital files the cameras create and includes software for searching and redacting video and audio files.
“The Board of Commissioners is pleased to fund these cameras to support the Sheriff’s Office in not only increasing their transparency but also the safety of deputies and the public,” said Commissioner Charlotte Garrido, chair of the Board of County Commissioners. “Our appreciation goes out to Sheriff Gese and his staff for all the work they put into launching this project.”
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