Linn County deputies now wearing body cameras

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County Sheriff's Office deputies have been outfitted with body cameras.

According to a sheriff's office news release, 65 Panasonic Arbitrator Body Worn Cameras were purchased with $120,000 from Linn County's general fund. The cameras have been issued to all deputies, except those working in the jail, said Sheriff Brian Gardner. Gardner said a 'vast majority” of the Linn County jail's interior is covered by a camera system and the deputies there don't require body cameras.

Gardner said deputies are being trained on when the cameras will be activated, as well as when they should be deactivated to respect someone's privacy. At this time, the cameras have been programmed to activate whenever a deputy activates their in-car cameras.

Training on the body cameras will continue in the following weeks, Gardner said.

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