In an effort to improve productivity and provide more accountability of a patrol deputy’s work performance in the field, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced that the initial deployment of body cams to Maricopa County Sheriff’s deputies in all patrol districts is completed. The cameras are now in full operation.

Sheriff’s Capt. Dave Letourneau gave the Fountain Hills Town Council a presentation on the cameras at the Feb. 18 session.

He told the council the body cams are expected to be beneficial to deputies in a variety of ways, not the least of which is a projected uptick in productivity (number of arrests) and a decrease in the number of sustained complaints against deputies by persons stopped or arrested.

Letourneau said they have already used the video to assess complaints against deputies by citizens and they showed no disciplinary action was needed.

But the introduction of body cams may have adverse effects as well, Arpaio says. Recent published reports about police body cams have shown they can potentially negatively impact the number of arrests or traffic stops conducted by officers or deputies because they may be wary of being filmed.

Arpaio is urging his deputies to avoid that kind of thinking.

“I am encouraging deputies to carry on business as usual,” Arpaio said.

“We’ll be able to clearly determine the body cam impact by comparing the number of stops made last year, which were nearly 32,000, to the number deputies make in 2016.”

Arpaio also says that while he was uncertain about the legitimacy of body cams at first, he now is quite sure this new technology will provide a true picture of the fine work being done by his deputies working in patrol every day.

“Body cams likely became necessary due to the erosion of the public trust.” Arpaio said.

“People no longer seem to trust not only law enforcement, but the media and politicians. It’s a shame that people put more trust in technology than in their fellow man.”

The Sheriff’s Office is sounding the warning of trusting technology too much.

“What body cams show is only a portion of a larger picture,” Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan said.

“Before the media or public passes judgement on a deputy or suspect seen on body cam video, it is best to wait for the entire picture to emerge including video, audio, context and witness reports.”

Letourneau addressed some concerns brought up by Mayor Linda Kavanagh.

“What if you respond to an assault and a woman answers the door in a state of undress,” Kavanagh asked.

Letourneau said people identified as victims will have the option to make their statements off camera with only the audio captured.

Suspects will not have the off camera option.

Letourneau said they are still learning in the early stages of implementing the camera use. The video is currently made available to the County Attorney and defense attorneys as necessary. Letourneau said policies regarding public records access are still under review.

He said they are able to learn and establish policies based on experiences of other agencies across the country and in the Valley.

MCSO is thus far the largest agency in Arizona to implement the body camera use, according to Letourneau. The Sheriff’s Office is using the cameras as part of its Department of Justice compliance order, which requires the recording of traffic stops.

The Sheriff’s body cams are a Taser International product. Training of all deputies has been completed and so far, few technical problems have been reported, according to MCSO spokesman Chris Hedstrom.

The cameras are clipped to sunglasses or baseball caps worn by each deputy. Deputies also have the option to use a halo device without glasses or caps.

The cameras are turned on at the beginning of a public contact and off when complete. At the end of each shift the video is downloaded from a base at each District substation.