The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to spend more than $1.1 million to outfit sheriff’s deputies with body-worn cameras.

According to a county staff report, the cameras will initially be deployed at sheriff’s stations in Alpine and Ramona, with full implementation taking about four or five months.

Sheriff Bill Gore said video recorded by camera can show what led up to use of force by a deputy, and whether the level of force was appropriate. Law enforcement officials say the cameras, which are designed to capture interactions between uniformed officers and the public, provide evidence when members of the public lodge complaints.

Supporters also contend that the simple presence of cameras can defuse tense situations…. continue reading