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Local Government & Politics

Virginia Beach Sheriff’s Office asks for body cameras ahead of upcoming Oceanfront festivals, other special events

The Virginian-Pilot
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A signal device, seen left, sits amongst a dock of body cameras during a press conference announcing the arrival of body cameras to the Virginia Beach Police Department at Virginia Beach Municipal Center on Friday, July 27, 2018. The signal device is tied to the police officer's gun holster and taser and automatically triggers recording on the body cameras of all officers within 30 feet of the scene. Following each shift an officer places their camera back into the dock and information off offloaded into a cloud system and the camera is recharged.

A signal device, seen left, sits amongst a dock of body cameras during a press conference announcing the arrival of body cameras to the Virginia Beach Police Department at Virginia Beach Municipal Center on Friday, July 27, 2018. The signal device is tied to the police officer's gun holster and taser and automatically triggers recording on the body cameras of all officers within 30 feet of the scene. Following each shift an officer places their camera back into the dock and information off offloaded into a cloud system and the camera is recharged. (Kristen Zeis)

VIRGINIA BEACH — With several large-scale festivals coming to the Oceanfront this spring and early summer, Virginia Beach Sheriff Ken Stolle wants body worn cameras for his deputies as soon as possible.

Sheriff’s deputies assist police officers during special events, and the City Council recently approved more enforcement authorities for deputies related to several nonfelony offenses.

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At the Something in the Water festival in April, 105 deputies will augment the police department, Undersheriff Brian Struzzieri told council members at a meeting Tuesday.

Stolle wants cameras for all of his office’s staff members who provide law enforcement services in support of the police department and for those who issue summons, warrants and evictions. Eventually, he also wants cameras for deputies who work at the city jail and court buildings.

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Footage obtained by body worn cameras can improve safety, accountability and transparency in law enforcement, according to Kevin Fairley, the city’s information services administrator who presented the sheriff’s request.

“This is a necessity,” Vice Mayor Rosemary Wilson said at the meeting.

The police department has been using Axon body worn cameras since 2021. The sheriff would like the deputies to have access to the same equipment package that police use. It includes tasers, which deputies currently don’t carry.

“If they’re engaging our public, this affords them less lethal ways of enforcing the law,” said City Manager Patrick Duhaney.

Virginia Beach's Capt. Todd Jones wears an Axon body camera during a press release announcing the arrival of the camera's to the police department at Virginia Beach Municipal Center on Friday, July 27, 2018.

Virginia Beach's Capt. Todd Jones wears an Axon body camera during a press release announcing the arrival of the camera's to the police department at Virginia Beach Municipal Center on Friday, July 27, 2018. (Kristen Zeis)

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The sheriff’s office is working on its body-worn camera and taser policy, according to spokesperson Toni Guagenti. The police department’s policy stipulates guidelines including when officers should activate cameras, retention of recordings, and who has access to recordings.

“We are piggybacking on VBPD’s polices when it comes to be a force-multiplier, but we have our own needs for these cameras, so we will have our own policy to reflect our additional responsibilities in the jail, at the courthouse and with civil process,” Guagenti wrote in an email on Wednesday. “We, of course, will follow all protocols and (Freedom of Information Act) rules and regulations.”

Councilman Rocky Holcomb, a chief deputy in the sheriff’s office, said the deputies have already begun training to use body worn cameras.

“We don’t feel like we can let law enforcement officers go out into the community without this forensic evidence,” Holcomb said.

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The City Council informally agreed on Tuesday to provide $640,000 for 220 cameras. They’re scheduled to vote on it March 21.

The sheriff’s office has 441 sworn law enforcement personnel. Money for the additional 280 cameras requested by the sheriff could be approved by the City Council in the upcoming budget.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com

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