The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) has settled on a pick for a body-cam and in-car camera system.

In November 2020, DCSO began field testing body-worn and in-car camera systems. They tested two different brands of camera systems for 60 days. Each deputy testing the camera systems utilized each brand of camera system for 30 days. The testing consisted of not only field use of each camera system, but the evaluation of software, data storage requirements, data storage cost, and customer service.

After receiving input from the testing deputies, information technologies (IT) department, and the automotive fleet manager, the Sheriff’s Office decided to outfit DCSO deputies and vehicles with Safe Fleet-Coban camera systems.

DCSO plans on having body cameras issued to all patrol deputies starting the week of May 3. DCSO will also be outfitting patrol cars with the in-car camera system. Installing the cameras in patrol vehicles will be done in phases.

Policy for the body- and in-car camera systems is still being developed, but DCSO reports that it will be completed prior to May 3. The policy will be available to view at www.sheriff.deschutes.org when it is finalized.

“The Sheriff’s Office knows implementing the use of body-worn cameras is an important step in enhancing public trust and the transparency of our operations,” Public Information Officer Sgt. Jayson Janes said in a prepared statement. “We also know implementing the camera systems comes at a cost to the residents of Deschutes County. Based on the results of the testing, the Sheriff’s Office believes the decision to choose Safe Fleet-Coban allows the Sheriff’s Office to implement body-worn and in-car camera systems in the most fiscally responsible manner.”

Safe Fleet-Coban camera systems are also being used by the Oregon State Police, Los Angeles Police Department, Chicago Police Department, Seattle Police Department, Washington State Patrol, and other law-enforcement agencies throughout the country.