RENO, Nev. (KOLO) Body cameras are becoming standard for many law enforcement agencies across the country, and Nevada could soon be the next state to mandate their use.
Senate Bill 176 would require all law enforcement officers in the state who regularly interact with the public to wear body cameras while on the job.
"We think it's a good policy, one that can protect both police and the public," Senator Aaron Ford (D) said.
Sen. Ford is one of the main sponsors of the bill. He also sponsored similar legislation last session mandating all Nevada Highway Patrol troopers wear body cameras. That bill just went into effect this year.
"I think this bill is a good opportunity for police officers to be protected from frivolous complaints, and I think it's a good opportunity for the public to be protected from rogue cops," Sen. Ford said. "I wouldn't say this bill is a direct response to anything happening. It's just a good idea."
Several law enforcement agencies across the state also think it's a good idea. Washoe County Sheriff Chuck Allen says he's looked into outfitting his deputies with cameras, since they would help validate many of the decisions made by law enforcement every day.
"The video doesn't lie," he said. "And often the public will just see a piece of what transpired and not know what lead up to that call and what led the officer, the deputy, the trooper to take that reasonable force necessary to neutralize that threat."
He says the cameras would be a win-win for both police and the community. The deputies are already used to being taped since the Sheriff's Office marked cars are already outfitted with cameras. He also says if this bill passes, he will "lead by example" and also wear a camera for the remainder of him term as sheriff. He says the cameras will also help with transparency.
"Our deputies are out there doing great things every day, but we don't always have the ability to convey that to the community," he said. "Often a 10- to 15-second clip interacting with the community somewhere can be very educational to our citizens."
But like everything in life, implementing the system comes down to money.
"It's not so much the upfront cost of the camera itself, but it's the storage of all the digital data that will be required for us to maintain," Sheriff Allen said.
The WCSO estimates it will cost $750,000 to implement a 100-camera system over a 5-year contract. Sheriff Allen says there are more than 100 people in his department that would be required to wear the body cameras, so that cost will likely be higher. The City of Sparks says the first-year costs of implementing body cameras would be around $112,000. That includes approximately $70,000 for equipment, plus about $42,000 for monthly storage fees. The city estimates after the first year, it will cost about $127,000 to maintain the system. That includes the $42,000 data storage cost plus $85,000 for a staff member to be responsible for video management, redaction, and distribution.
The Washoe County District Attorney's Office says it will also have a fiscal impact as a result of buying additional storage for body camera footage, as well as personnel to download, transfer and copy the video taken for evidence, but says the exact amount is unknown.
The NHP, which received more than $1 million from the 2015 Legislature to implement the body camera system, says it needs an additional $478,416 each fiscal year for data transfer and storage relating to bodycameras.
SB 176 helps solve the fiscal problem by authorizing the Board of County Commissioners in each county to increase the 911 surcharge people pay on their phone bills. Currently in Washoe County, people pay a 911 surcharge of $0.25 per phone line each month. That money pays for the maintenance of the 911 system. This bill allows county commissioners to increase that charge up to $1.00.
"It could be $0.20, it could be $0.25, it could be $0.95 cents, but only up to a dollar per phone for a 911 surcharge," Sen. Ford said.
If commissioners don't approve an increased surcharge rate, counties face an unfunded mandate.
The county estimates if it raised the surcharge to the full dollar, about $4.8 million in revenue would be collected. That money would be split among the agencies required to wear the cameras: Reno Police, Sparks Police, WCSO, City Marshall, and University Police. Washoe County School Police are exempt from the mandate. But Sheriff Allen says it's likely commissioners won't have to raise the surcharge the full amount.
"I was told that if they only raise it $0.25, based on the calls for service in this county, that will generate something north of $1.2 to $1.4 million a year," Sheriff Allen said.
That's enough, he says, to cover the cost of the system.
SB 176 passed the Nevada Legislature Senate, and has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs. If the bill passes and is signed into law, it will go into effect July of 2018. Sheriff Allen says if that happens, his department will look to Vegas Metro, which already requires its officers to wear cameras, as to how to implement a policy that works for the department.
Source: Police body camera proposal could increase your phone bill
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