Office of the Sheriff Announces Pilot Body-Worn Camera Program #PGSO

Upper Marlboro, MD… The Prince George's County Office of the Sheriff announced today that it began a body-worn camera pilot project on November 2nd to test camera equipment of several vendors. Cameras from each vendor will be tested; two by deputies in the Domestic Violence Intervention Division, one in the Landlord & Tenant Evictions Section, and one in the Warrant Fugitive Division. The pilot is funded with a $150,000 grant through the 2015 Urban Area Security Initiative, Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency. Completion of the pilot is expected to take between four and six months.

According to Lt. Brian Endlich, who is overseeing the evaluation, deputies will be trained in the proper use of each piece of equipment and will follow the agency’s written body-worn camera policy required under Maryland Police Public Safety Article 3-511. The agency’s policy has been reviewed and vetted by the Maryland Attorney General’s Office.

“I believe this technology can be an effective tool for use in public safety,” said Sheriff High. “Our goal with this pilot is to understand the technology better and to determine whether body-worn cameras can help us do our work more effectively, including delivering greater transparency and accountability to citizens in the performance of our duties.”

Lt. Endlich said the pilot will enable the Training Division to review and evaluate every aspect of body-worn camera usage, including the user friendliness, capacity and durability of the equipment in order to select the best camera should the agency decide to implement a body-worn camera program.

For more information contact the Communications and Public Affairs Division at 301-780-7354.