Law enforcement and county officials are in the research and development phase of implementing a body camera program in Harris County in the wake of a new state law.
Senate Bill 158, authored by state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in June and establishes guidelines and a funding mechanism for police departments across the state to implement or advance body-worn camera programs.
The legislation sets aside $10 million of the state’s general revenue for police departments to apply for funding for body-worn camera programs. As the first comprehensive body-worn camera legislation in Texas, SB 158 gives police departments the discretion to adopt policies tailored to their respective communities.
“Each community is different in the state of Texas, and for me to try and dictate to every community when they should have cameras turned on or off is not very feasible,” West said.
Harris County is developing a program with the intention of equipping sheriff’s deputies and deputy constables with body cameras. Several of the eight constable precincts in Harris County—including Precinct 4—use body cameras already, but the sheriff’s office is creating policies that will decide where cameras will be worn and when they will record.
“I think [SB 158] will provide guidance on what the state expects from us and gives us standards to follow,” said Sgt. Tommy Diaz, who oversees strategic planning with the sheriff’s office. “Just several months ago, we were wondering what other agencies were doing and what the best practices were across the country. Trying to base our policies on other states’ practices is difficult, so now we have minimum standards that give us something to lean on.”
Body cameras can be worn on various places, such as a cap, glasses, chest, epaulet or lapel. Cameras are not typically turned on for the duration of an officer’s shift but used during traffic stops, an arrest or when suspicious behavior occurs.
“They capture crucial information, whether it be evidence or the recording itself,” said Mark Herman, Harris County Precinct 4 constable. “It’s a management and investigative tool. Anything recorded on those is tagged as evidence.”
Herman—whose office began using body cameras two years ago—said he is in favor of the county purchasing additional body cameras since about 75 percent of his more than 400 deputies do not have cameras.
“They cut down on complaints, and at the same time it keeps deputies in check since they’re being recorded,” Herman said.
Aside from Harris County law enforcement officials, Lone Star College System police officers began using body cameras in June. About 130 officers systemwide use the cameras, which must be placed on the body at the beginning of each shift. The cameras only record during certain incidents, such as a traffic stop, contact with a possible suspect during arrest or other suspicious behavior that could turn into a criminal situation.
“In many cases, [body cameras] will modify [a suspect’s] behavior because they won’t act as inappropriately when it’s their word against the officer’s word,” LSCS Sgt. Troy Billings said. “It also keeps the officer more on point because he knows he’s recording and must act accordingly. It helps with documentation of reports because we have a replay of what did happen on the scene versus the officer’s memory.”
Body cameras do have limitations, such as the lack of tactile evidence.
“If you’re arresting someone and they start to pull away or their muscles tense up, that would be a clue to the deputy that the suspect might run or fight,” Diaz said. “[Body cameras] are not a foolproof solution to knowing what the deputy knew at the time or being in his or her shoes, but [they] are one additional variable.”
Additional reporting by Connor Hyde.
Law enforcement and county officials are in the research and development phase of implementing a body camera program in Harris County in the wake of a new state law.
Senate Bill 158, authored by state Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in June and establishes guidelines and a funding mechanism for police departments across the state to implement or advance body-worn camera programs.
The legislation sets aside $10 million of the state’s general revenue for police departments to apply for funding for body-worn camera programs. As the first comprehensive body-worn camera legislation in Texas, SB 158 gives police departments the discretion to adopt policies tailored to their respective communities.
“Each community is different in the state of Texas, and for me to try and dictate to every community when they should have cameras turned on or off is not very feasible,” West said.
Harris County is developing a program with the intention of equipping sheriff’s deputies and deputy constables with body cameras. Several of the eight constable precincts in Harris County—including Precinct 4—use body cameras already, but the sheriff’s office is creating policies that will decide where cameras will be worn and when they will record.
“I think [SB 158] will provide guidance on what the state expects from us and gives us standards to follow,” said Sgt. Tommy Diaz, who oversees strategic planning with the sheriff’s office. “Just several months ago, we were wondering what other agencies were doing and what the best practices were across the country. Trying to base our policies on other states’ practices is difficult, so now we have minimum standards that give us something to lean on.”
Body cameras can be worn on various places, such as a cap, glasses, chest, epaulet or lapel. Cameras are not typically turned on for the duration of an officer’s shift but used during traffic stops, an arrest or when suspicious behavior occurs.
“They capture crucial information, whether it be evidence or the recording itself,” said Mark Herman, Harris County Precinct 4 constable. “It’s a management and investigative tool. Anything recorded on those is tagged as evidence.”
Herman—whose office began using body cameras two years ago—said he is in favor of the county purchasing additional body cameras since about 75 percent of his more than 400 deputies do not have cameras.
“They cut down on complaints, and at the same time it keeps deputies in check since they’re being recorded,” Herman said.
Aside from Harris County law enforcement officials, Lone Star College System police officers began using body cameras in June. About 130 officers systemwide use the cameras, which must be placed on the body at the beginning of each shift. The cameras only record during certain incidents, such as a traffic stop, contact with a possible suspect during arrest or other suspicious behavior that could turn into a criminal situation.
“In many cases, [body cameras] will modify [a suspect’s] behavior because they won’t act as inappropriately when it’s their word against the officer’s word,” LSCS Sgt. Troy Billings said. “It also keeps the officer more on point because he knows he’s recording and must act accordingly. It helps with documentation of reports because we have a replay of what did happen on the scene versus the officer’s memory.”
Body cameras do have limitations, such as the lack of tactile evidence.
“If you’re arresting someone and they start to pull away or their muscles tense up, that would be a clue to the deputy that the suspect might run or fight,” Diaz said. “[Body cameras] are not a foolproof solution to knowing what the deputy knew at the time or being in his or her shoes, but [they] are one additional variable.”
Additional reporting by Connor Hyde.
