Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Body Worn Cameras topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff's office demos Axon Body 4 cameras; explains 60‑second buffer, storage, and training use
Summary
Lieutenant Josh Crum demonstrated Axon Body 4 cameras to the Police Accountability Board March 12, explaining hardware features, the statutorily required 60‑second pre‑record buffer (video only), charging/download procedures, retention and redaction policies, and training uses.
Lieutenant Josh Crum of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office demonstrated the department's Axon body‑worn cameras at the Police Accountability Board meeting on March 12 and fielded questions about functionality, evidence handling and policy.
Crum showed board members the Axon Body 4 device and described key features: an LCD status screen, programmable buttons, onboard microphones, accessory ports for helmet or extension cameras used by the EST (tactical) team, and multiple mounting options. He said the system uses docking stations at district stations to download footage and charge cameras automatically.
On statutory requirements, Crum said, "60 seconds is required statutorily. We're required to have a 60 second buffer." He explained that the buffer captures 60 seconds of video before audio becomes available: "It is audio free. And then as soon as you activate the camera, the audio begins." He described battery life from Axon's paperwork as "14 hours" in standby but said real‑world runtime varies by usage and active recording; heavy use can reduce runtime to about 7–8 hours.
Crum discussed integration and limitations. The Axon system is not synced to the county Tyler CAD dispatch system, he said; timestamps can differ by seconds but are not usually off by minutes. He explained taser integration: a modern Taser can send a wireless marker to cameras to tag an event, and that marker appears in the review software. He also noted limitations for low‑light or infrared night‑vision goggles: "There could be an instance where it's just not gonna pick it up because they're not using white light. They're using infrared light with their NVGs. Right?"
On data handling and access, Crum said officers cannot edit or delete original footage; they may add markers and produce redacted copies for public release. "The original copy is never deleted," he said. He also described retention practice changes: non‑evidentiary footage historically kept for three years and evidentiary footage for five, but retention periods have recently been extended in some categories and certain evidence is kept indefinitely.
Crum said each officer is assigned a specific camera with serial numbers tracked in the Axon review system, and supervisors may use footage for tactical debriefs and training. He described typical cleaning, ruggedness and repairs: the cameras are drop‑tested to six feet per manufacturer specs, are described as waterproof, and Axon handles replacements or repairs under warranty depending on the fault.
The demonstration included turning cameras on and off to show startup time, notification tones and the visible indicators for recording and battery status. Crum said docked cameras start automatic downloads when seated in the docking station.
