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Sheriff's dept. to launch body cameras trial run

Posted at 1:32 PM, Feb 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-01 21:42:59-05

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego County Sheriff's Department says it will test body worn cameras on deputies for 90 days before distributing them more widely.

The department said Monday that its trial run involves 75 cameras at six stations. The testing starts Friday and involves three vendors -- Taser International, WatchGuard Video and Vievu.

The department says information collected during the trials will be used to select a vendor.

The use of police body cameras is still in its infancy, but many agencies began testing them after unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, unleashed criticism of police tactics.

Last year, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department published an interim policy that would require deputies to record all law enforcement contacts, including arrests, traffic stops and interviews.