OCEAN CITY – Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) Chief Ross Buzzuro told resort leaders this week his agency has begun taking the first steps in implementing a body-worn camera program.
Earlier this year, the Maryland General Assembly passed legislation mandating law enforcement agencies to wear body-worn cameras to document their interactions with the public. While agencies have until 2025 to adopt the use of body-worn cameras, Buzzuro told members of the Ocean City Police Commission on Monday that OCPD officials were already having discussions with vendors.
“Obviously, we aren’t going to wait until 2025 …,” he said. “We wanted to at least let the commission and council know we believe this is a very valuable resource for us to move forward with in terms of public safety, the safety of our officers and the safety of our citizens.”
Buzzuro’s announcement this week comes nearly a month after the state’s Office of the Public Defender called on Ocean City’s police department to expedite its use of body-worn cameras in the wake of two highly publicized Boardwalk incidents in which the agency’s use of force was called into question.
In both cases, attempts to issue citations for vaping on the Boardwalk ended with physical confrontations between OCPD officers and the suspects and resulted in cell phone videos showing snippets of the incidents being circulated online.
Shocker….not a very surprising response at all….
I’d rather see all of the available footage, but I’m sure that won’t be released until after the civil situation is wrapped up. Something tells me that the attorneys for the defendants won’t have an easy time of trying to spin the action of their clients.
I’m guessing the lawsuit dies an early death and we never hear of it again. My proof? Well, I don’t have any – just a hunch, but the NAACP sure got quiet in a hurry….
…anybody have the popcorn?
Maybe some friendly “donations” from our Biggies in business on our island?
A little here, a little there helps!
Arent charitable donations tax deductible with a good tax person?
Hmmmm…..
The left wants us to believe that it’s always the police officers fault. Well when a body cam catches the incident and the criminal is found to be lying about the event that occurred then the criminal should get the maximum sentence.
2025? Wow, that’s only 4 years away but enough time for OC to build 2 new firehouses.
If they wanted to they could have these cameras in 6 weeks.
4 years? that’s called SLOW WALKING
Used to set up the police !!! Period
We should make Congressmen wear these cameras ALL the TIME !!!!!!