Title
A MOTION establishing a pilot project in the King County sheriff's office to evaluate the effectiveness and benefit of law enforcement vehicle and on-officer video camera and recording systems.
Body
WHEREAS, the justice and safety goal of the King County Strategic Plan prioritizes keeping people safe in their homes and communities, and
WHEREAS, the service excellence goal of the King County Strategic Plan prioritizes building a culture of service that is responsive and accountable to the community, and
WHEREAS, according to the sheriff's General Orders Manual, "a law enforcement agency must maintain a high level of personal and official conduct if it is to command and deserve the respect and confidence of the public it serves," and
WHEREAS, although the overwhelming majority of deputies and employees of the sheriff's office serve with honor and distinction, any instances or perceptions of misconduct, even if isolated and infrequent, can potentially damage the reputation of the sheriff's office and erode community trust, and
WHEREAS, to build and maintain community trust, it is incumbent on the county, along with sheriff's office leadership, to foster an environment in which new technology that can support ethical and conscientious behavior is evaluated and promulgated, and
WHEREAS, advancements in the development of video cameras and recording technology for vehicles, attached to controlled energy weapons, and worn on the body of law enforcement officers can contribute to officer safety, community trust, improved judicial process and overall professionalism, and
WHEREAS, video evidence has the ability to present unbiased facts, where by its nature, as courts have determined, video evidence is "extremely persuasive, vivid, and unforgettable," and
WHEREAS, the value of video evidence was emphasized by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Scott v. Harris where the court held that video recordings are more reliable than eyewitness testimon...

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