While many counties in Maryland have been adding body cams to an officer’s daily uniform, over the years the money amounts for cameras have added up. The sheriff hopes an increase in the budget would greatly benefit. 

     “Body-worn cameras for the Harford County Sheriff’s Office are expected to cost $2.7 million over five years, and staff would receive a pay bump to be competitive with other agencies, according to the proposed budget.” Says the Baltimore Sun

     In 2017 Harford County had a pilot body cam program, which gave 10 officers cameras, and “Both of these operating systems [body cams and in-car camera systems] have proven to be valuable tools in the investigation of crimes and citizen complaints.” said the sheriff’s office. The office said they hope to have all officers wearing body cams by January of 2022.

     “Body-worn cameras may result in better transparency and accountability,” says the National Institute of Justice. Use of camera footage from the body cams or in-vehicle cameras can help with legitimacy from the officers and other parties and community around them, in case an incident evolves to a point of arrest, court, or any other reason the footage would be needed. 

      “Beyond the costs of the equipment — and storage of the body camera footage — the office would employ more people to manage the video if Harford County Executive Barry Glassman’s proposed $1 billion fiscal year 2022 budget is adopted as-is.” Says the Baltimore Sun. 

     This proposed budget would bring in many advantages not only because it would provide direct evidence, but would provide more employment because somebody has to be looking through all the footage and more opportunities to be brought onto cases. 

    “Another benefit of body-worn cameras is their ability to provide law enforcement with a surveillance tool to promote officer safety and efficiency and prevent crime,” says the National Institute for Justice.

     A person who is committing a crime or planning on committing a crime would be less likely to do so if an officer would have their face directly on the camera. While some wouldn’t care if there’s a camera in their face to stop them, we now have a closer image of them to look out and find them faster. 

     “The budget takes effect with the start of the new fiscal year July 1… it would take time to get about 600 cameras to 300 deputies. The office aims to have a fully operational program between November and the end of the year,” says the Baltimore Sun. If this goal of cameras being added by 2022 is still the current plan, we should start to see some sort of impact.

     Although cost is expensive, Harford County’s sheriff would benefit from more cameras because of accurate information for officers and the community and help provide people with a trustworthy source.