UPDATE (Feb. 15, 2017, 9:38 a.m.): According to Ray Pruitt with the Kern County Sheriff's Office, the body cameras requested in the Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program grant would be dedicated for metropolitan patrol areas in and around the city of Bakersfield that are unincorporated.
This area includes Oildale, Southeast Bakersfield, East Bakersfield, parts of downtown and West Bakersfield. The grant would provide 90 body cameras.
Currently, KCSO has 85 officers that work in the metro area so nearly every officer working in the metro area would have a body camera.
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According to Sergeant Gary Carruesco of the Bakersfield Police Department, there is nothing in the works for BPD to get body cameras at this time.
Sgt. Carruesco shared that the fiscal impact is extremely large and would take a lot of consideration before implementing it in the department. It said it would be a "gamble" whether BPD would be able to assume the cost after the grant money is extinguished.
Today, February 14, 2017, the Kern County Sheriff's Office will speak with the Board of Supervisors to request authorization to apply for the Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program grant. This grant comes from the United States Department of Justice.
The grant would be in the amount of $144,419 with a 50 percent match comprised of AB109 Realignment funds and in-kind services.
