CLAY COUNTY—Sheriff Michelle Cook announced her commitment to enhancing transparency, accountability and safety within law enforcement by implementing body-worn cameras.

In a landmark move toward modern policing practices, CCSO is set to initiate the testing and evaluation of body-worn camera technology, with a full implementation to follow the evaluation phase. Recognizing the potential of body-worn cameras to impact law enforcement procedures significantly, CCSO is partnering with potential vendors to conduct comprehensive testing of both hardware and software solutions. This systematic approach aims to identify the most cost-efficient and beneficial option for the agency and the county’s citizens.

Body-worn cameras have been proven to increase transparency, accountability, deputy and citizen safety, and the quality of evidence, thereby positively impacting prosecutions. These devices are crucial in promoting trust and confidence in the criminal justice system by capturing real-time interactions between law enforcement deputies and the community.

“Our decision to implement body-worn cameras underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering transparency, accountability, and safety within our communities while also increasing the safety of our deputies,” Cook said. “We recognize that this represents a significant investment of capital, and thus, we are taking a deliberate and systematic approach to ensure that we select the most effective solution for our agency and our community. We are currently pursuing grants to offset some of the costs associated with a body-worn camera program.”

In January 2023, the Orange Park Police Department used money from the American Rescue Plan to offset the $229,000 price tag for equipment and five years of video storage for its body-worn cameras.