Santa Clara County Sheriff's Deputies to Wear Body Cameras

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA -- Sheriff's deputies and correctional officers in Santa Clara County will soon be outfitted with body-worn cameras, a decision that the Board of Supervisors made via unanimous vote on Jan. 24.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office serves the cities of Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County, plus provides law enforcement services for the Valley Transportation Authority and the Santa Clara County Parks Department.

The Sheriff's Office is also responsible for the safety and security of the Santa Clara County Superior Court system and its staff, plus oversees the Santa Clara County jail system.

An estimated 1,142 officers will eventually wear the cameras, according to Supervisor Joe Simitian's office.

Simitian first proposed the technology in December 2014, saying that he was motivated by the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by Ferguson, Missouri police Officer Darren Wilson, in August of that year, inspiring
widespread protests and sparking a national conversation about racial profiling by law enforcement.

The body cameras decision comes almost a year and a half after three guards at the Santa Clara County Jail allegedly beat a mentally ill inmate to death in August 2015.

The three guards are now facing murder and assault charges.

In September 2015, Simitian proposed an implicit bias training for all law enforcement officers in the county, according to his office. The training program began that December, and so far almost 200 deputies have taken the course.

Simitian also plans to propose a system of civilian oversight of law enforcement. That proposal is expected to come to the board in June, according to his office.

Bay City News contributed to this report/Image via Shutterstock