The Anne Arundel County Police Department this week announced that to date, 143 officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. By mid-September, all Anne Arundel County’s sworn police officers will use body cameras while on duty.
“We would like to thank the Office of the County Executive and the County Council for their support for our body-worn camera program,” said Anne Arundel County Chief of Police Amal E. Awad. “We look forward to the implementation of the program in the coming months, which will enhance the trust and relationship between our community and our officers. Our program will also allow us to continue our commitment to transparency, and lead us to the highest level of accountability to the community we serve.”
According to the Anne Arundel County Police Department:
The Anne Arundel County Police Department is dedicated to professionalism and transparency. The Body Worn Camera (BWC) Program is intended to:
- Strengthen police accountability;
- Promote de-escalation by both law enforcement officers and those they encounter;
- Enhance the ability to resolve officer-involved incidents and complaints;
- Improve transparency;
- Identify and correct internal agency training, policy and other issues;
- Strengthen officer performance and safety; and
- Increase community safety.
As previously reported on Conduit Street, the County’s fiscal 2021 budget allocated $1.1 million for the body-worn camera program.
This year, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation that will require all state and local law enforcement agencies to use body-worn cameras by 2025.
