CAMERAS Storing data bulk of costs

agencies in the county, was awarded the contract, said police Capt. Sean Marchand. Using the same system will make it easier to share video evidence with other agencies and the courts.

The cameras also are able to communicate with other Axon devices, including the Tasers used by Oceanside police. Using the Taser will automatically activate the camera.

Also, all camera data in the new system will be uploaded to the cloud instead of being stored on individual police department servers, making the system more accessible and reliable.

Axon will replace all the cameras with new ones after two and a half years, Marchand said.

Data storage fees are “the bulk” of the contract costs, Mccoy said. All of the recordings must be stored temporarily, those related to felony cases must be kept at least three years, and any related to a murder case are kept “forever,” he said.

The nearly $2 million cost will be paid in annual increments from the city’s operations budget over the life of the five-year contract.

The new cameras will arrive “at once and be distributed immediately,” Mccoy said.

Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said she finds it reassuring that the officers want to use the cameras whenever they go on patrol.

“It makes us more honest,” she said.

Statistics show the cameras discourage the use of violence.

A San Diego Police Department report released in 2017 said that after officers there began wearing the cameras nearly three years earlier, the department had significant decreases in misconduct allegations and the use of force by officers.

U-T FILE The Oceanside Police Department will buy 225 new body-worn cameras for officers.