Funding For Police Officer Body Cameras Included In Amendments

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman vowed to find funding to purchase body cameras for county police officers and Thursday, he announced he will submit a package of supplemental budget amendments to the County Council to secure that funding. The amendments will total approximately $1.8 million for fiscal year 2021. Many community leaders and advocates have called for adding funding for body worn cameras to the budget in response to the murder of George Floyd in Minnesota.

“I don’t know what it feels like to dread an interaction with police,” Pittman said in a statement. “But residents of our county who experience that fear tell me that the transparency offered by cameras can help. I also don’t know the anxiety that our officers experience when working to prevent violence, sometimes through the use of force. They tell me that the transparency offered by cameras can help. Doing this is smart policy in any time, and I’m glad that we now have the political support to make it happen.”

Pittman intended to include funding for body cameras in the proposed fiscal year 2021 budget introduced May 1, but deferred it after revenue estimates plummeted by $63 million due to the coronavirus pandemic. Estimates at that time indicated that the fiscal year 2021 cost would be $4-5 million. Since then, the administration has pursued alternate contract models and has reduced the cost estimates. The annualized cost is now expected to be between $2.2 - $2.8 million, which would represent a five-year contract cost of approximately $11-$14 million.

"I am encouraged by the efforts to push ahead with the Body Worn Camera Program for our police department in Anne Arundel County,” said County Council Chair Allison Pickard (District 2). “We can all be proud of this collaborative effort by the administration, the County Council, the police department and our community. It gives me hope when we all come together for a common purpose."

Councilmember Jessica Haire (District 7) noted that body cameras will "provide transparency and accountability while helping grow the relationship between our county officers and communities."

The proposal will allow the county to outfit all police officers with body cameras. Part of the cost is for new positions in the police department and the State Attorney’s Office to administer the program, review footage and provide technical support. The proposal is similar to active body camera programs in other Maryland jurisdictions.

“I am extremely happy to hear the county executive and County Council found a way to fund our body worn camera program,” Altomare said. “This is the right thing to do. Your police department supports any technology that invests in public trust. The addition of body worn cameras is an opportunity to show the community and nation who we are as police officers entrusted with the safety of our residents, visitors, and everyone in our community.”

The supplemental budget amendments will be submitted to the County Council in advance of its meeting June 5 at 9 a.m. The Council is not expected to vote on the amendments until June 9.