LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said it is rolling out its use of body cameras for officers.
The agency began issuing body cameras to officers and training them in their use this past Friday, according to Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Earlier this year, the Lakeport City Council authorized funding to purchase additional and replacement mobile audio video units – known more commonly as “MAVs” – to deploy in all marked Lakeport Police vehicles and body cameras for all sworn Lakeport Police Department staff, as Lake County News has reported.
Rasmussen said his department has been using MAV units in vehicles for a number of years. However, the body cameras are new equipment for department personnel.
Rasmussen said the body cameras will extend and enhance the department's ability to capture video footage of officers conducting their work when outside of their vehicles and not in range of the MAV units.
Additionally, the use of body cameras is intended to enhance the mission of the department by accurately capturing contacts between members of the department and the public, Rasmussen said.
“We believe that the cameras will be particularly beneficial in those situations where officers are being threatened or physically assaulted or situations where persons are resisting arrest or being confrontational with officers,” Rasmussen said. “This year we have had numerous incidents of officers being assaulted and subjects resisting arrest.”
Lakeport Police management worked with the Lakeport Police Officers Association in implementing department policies and procedures for use of the body cameras, which is separate and has differences from the agency's current policies and procedures covering MAV units, according to Rasmussen.
After researching different camera systems, the department elected to purchase body camera units known as BODYCAM by PRO-VISION of Byron Center, Mich.
These units have a 170-degree, wide-angle view, infrared night vision, 1080P high-definition video with audio, 32 gigabytes of video storage and wireless remote control activation, Rasmussen said. Further information on the units can be found at www.bodycameras.com .
Rasmussen said his department thanked the Lakeport City Council and City Manager Margaret Silveira for their support of this program.