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Monroe County Sheriff's Office Begins Using Body Cameras

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The Monroe County Sheriff's Office has begun using body worn cameras.

Training for the cameras was completed last week and officers began wearing them on Monday.

Most uniformed deputies will be required to wear the body cams as a routine part of their uniform.

The new policy requires that the cameras are to be worn by road patrol deputies and sergeants, school resource deputies, civil deputies, traffic deputies and airport deputies.

Additionally, sergeants and detectives will also be required to wear them when they are in uniform and detectives also have the option to wear the cameras when in plain clothes.

"We are confident these cameras will help to enhance deputy safety and trust between the community and the agency," said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. "Having video and audio recordings of our interactions with the public can only help us when it comes to our interactions with people in the field. It will reassure the public and our officers that we are open, honest and professional in the way we deal with people on a day to day basis and, if we do have training issues we need to deal with, it will help us to identify those issues so we can take care of them quickly."

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office has been using body-worn microphones and in-car video cameras for several years.

The agency believes, based on experience, that having more information and clear evidence can only help when it comes to enforcing the law.

"We have had many instances where video from our in-car cameras has served to clarify the way an incident unfolded," said Sheriff Ramsay. "We expect the new body-worn cameras to simply enhance these benefits. Oftentimes having video of an incident helps to deescalate both sides of a confrontation," he said.

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