Sheriff's Deputies Begin Wearing Body Cameras In Kendall County

KENDALL COUNTY, IL — Deputies with the Kendall County Sheriff's Office began implementing a new body-worn camera program Tuesday, the sheriff's office announced. According to a news release from the sheriff's office, deputies will now record audio and visual interactions between sheriff's office personnel and citizens to reinforce their commitment to being transparent with the community.

Calling the body cameras a "valuable asset," the sheriff's office said using the technology will allow for accurate documentation of actions, events, conditions and statements made during law enforcement interactions, arrests, investigations and critical incidents.

The new equipment will also permit sheriff's office administrators to do periodic reviews of contact with citizens and help in investigations involving citizen complaints, according to the news release.

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The Kendall County Sheriff’s Office will utilize Getac body-worn cameras which offer full integration with their current in-squad video systems, the sheriff's office said in the news release, adding that they have a policy in place to govern the deployment and use of the body-worn cameras.

“I support having our deputies wear body cameras," Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird said, in the news release. "Although body-worn cameras don’t capture everything the deputy sees, it will be beneficial for court proceedings and will provide a clearer picture of what happened during an incident. Body-worn cameras are an important tool in fostering openness, transparency, and public trust. This body-worn camera program is another progressive step in our effort to better serve and protect residents through strengthening community and police relations.”