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Oakdale, CA – Oakdale Police Department deploys body worn cameras on all officers.This past week, the City of Oakdale Police Department joined the growing list of law enforcement agencies in California and the nation to outfit every officer on the street with body worn camera technology.

The police department began researching body worn camera technology earlier this year. At its June 6th meeting, the Oakdale City Council authorized the police department to enter into a purchase and service agreement with Taser International, Inc. to equip the force with Taser Axon Flex Body Worn Cameras. The approximately $14,000 initial outlay was partially offset by approximately $10,000 in state funding. The police department began testing and evaluation of the body worn cameras in September.

The department decided on utilizing the technology for various reasons which include: to enhance agency transparency, to improve digital evidence collection, to strengthen officer performance and accountability, to document encounters between police and the public, and to investigate and resolve complaints and officer involved critical incidents.

“We are excited to equip all of our officers with this essential equipment,” said Police Chief Scott Heller. “This tool helps increase transparency and accountability within the ranks and within the community,”

The Taser Axon Flex cameras issued by the Oakdale Police Department are mounted on a collar, epaulet, or eyeglass frame, all of which capture video closely in line with the line of sight of the officer. After consultation with the Oakdale Police Officers Association, the US Department of Justice, Police Executive Research Forum,International Association of Chiefs of Police, California Police Chief’s Association and various other law enforcement agencies throughout the state, the department has established a comprehensive policy aiming to strike a balance between the need to capture video evidence and privacy concerns. With this in mind, the police department will move forward with this technology in a way that aims to preserve and enhance the informal and unique relationships between police officers and citizens.

Training all the officers on these policies and the practices for the body worn camera will help the success of the program. The issuance of the equipment to 23 police officers began on Wednesday, November 16th. Police officers went through standardized training from a representative of Taser International, Inc. Many questions about the technical aspects of the cameras and evidence storage were answered. The Oakdale Police Department will join other area law enforcement agencies, including Ceres and Modesto, in partnering with the District Attorney’s Office with the sharing of the digital evidence for prosecution purposes. As the technology becomes commonplace the expectation is reduced time in court and increased successful prosecutions.