BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Erie County Sheriff's Office announced it has completed the rollout of body-worn cameras at the Erie County Holding Center in Buffalo and Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden.
According to the sheriff's office, 175 body-worn cameras have been deployed at the holding center and 122 have been deployed at the correctional facility. The sheriff's office said any corrections officer or deputy in a housing unit or post where they interact with an incarcerated individual or the public will be equipped with one.
Sheriff John Garcia said this will help with transparency inside their facilities.
"At the end of the day, we want the truth to come out and this is another tool," he said. "You and I could be standing on the corner observing the same incident it will have two different versions, so it's important that all our jail management division officers have this because now you're looking at it from different angles and we can see what the truth is at the end of the day."
Any corrections officer or deputy will have a body cam. Garcia said the cameras are not always recording. Instead, if an incident occurs and a call goes out — the cameras will start filming 30 seconds prior.
"There's unjustified complaints that come from say members of the public and those incarcerated and it saves on time when you have to go into an investigation. It's another investigative tool," Garcia said.
Erie County legislator and Minority Leader John Mills said these cameras will protect everyone involved.
"I think that it'll lead to less lawsuits and less injuries, so it's a win-win," Mill said.
Over the past several years— there have been deadly incidents involving incarcerated people and no body cams to show what happened. The most recent incident involved 52-year-old Shaun Humphrey. The attorney tells 7 News the medical examiner's office is ruling Humphrey's death a homicide and his death certificate lists "asphyxia due to a prone position with compression of torso."
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"It makes everything a lot clearer. Transparency is bottom line. I mean it's gonna show you exactly what's happening," Mills said.
Legislator Howard Johnson said this push was an effort on both sides of the aisle. The legislature unanimously approved the $360,000 in funding for the body cameras in 2021.
"And that's the biggest technology improvement right there that where there was no body cameras now there's body cameras," Johnson said. "It promotes transparency. and promotes all those things that we believe will help."
The cost of not having it outweighs the cost of purchasing, Garcia added.
"I'm looking forward to, you know, the future now, in modernizing the office," Garcia said.
“Throughout my tenure as Chair of the Legislature I have fought tirelessly for body cameras and improved transparency within our county jail system. I am proud to hear that body cameras have been fully deployed in both of our county jails. The body camera system will help protect the safety of deputies and detainees.”
