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Jacksonville police get ready for body cameras; some fighting to make sure it protects the public

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Many people are fighting to make sure body cameras will protect the public as the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office gets set to put body cameras on officers.

JSO will soon put body cameras on up to 300 officers. Civil right leaders are demanding a say in how those cameras will be used.

Many point back to a deadly police shooting in May when 22-year-old Vernell Bing Jr, was shot and killed after a police chase. Bing was not armed. Police and witnesses had dramatically different accounts of what happened.

“It’s imperative that we hold officers accountable for what’s happening on the streets,” said Ken Stokes with NAACP.

JSO will put a test program in place in 2017 and will then create a policy.

Jacksonville Sheriff Mike Williams met with faith-based organizations and civil rights groups, for a voice in the policy.

“The sheriff thought it would be very productive to have us at the table, one to make sure there’s representation from the community,” said Stokes.

Some key points brought up at the meeting were that JSO should commit to a set purpose for how the cameras and the footage may be used. It should enforce strict protocols for all policy violations, involving JSO officers, and JSO should make body cam footage available to the public and press upon request.

Some people said body cameras don’t always provide closure.

A Charlotte, North Carolina, officer shot and killed Keith Lamont Scott in September 2016. The officer claimed Scott had a gun, but it wasn’t seen on police camera footage. Protesters held riots after the officer wasn’t charged in the case.

Jacksonville native and pastor Ruth Taylor said the meeting is a start.

“The credibility, starts with, if you have law enforcement, it starts there,” said Taylor.

Williams released a statement Wednesday:

"Face-to-face information sharing is key in planning properly for major changes, such as the implementation of a body-worn camera program for Jacksonville's police. Now that we are far enough along in our research and study of various programs and policies around the country, I am moving forward with meetings and information exchanges like the ones I had yesterday," said Sheriff Mike Williams.

These information sharing sessions began on February 7th, when the Sheriff presented to the City Council's Public Health and Safety Committee. JSO's next step is to set up six regional town hall meetings, at times and locations convenient for citizens, so they can receive the same information about JSO's research and proposed body-worn camera program and where citizens can provide their feedback and input.

"Obviously, as part of my continuing dialogue with civic and business leaders on important issues, having a discussion with three civil rights organizations together specifically about body cameras, was a great opportunity. We are much more aligned in our thinking than detractors would like to believe.

The JSO officers that participate in the pilot program, scheduled to roll out later this spring/early summer, will be testing the hardware, software, and (along with other stakeholders) will evaluate the framework of our policy for its efficacy, as well as any issues they may have with various aspects of the program. That's the importance of a testing phase," Williams said.

Details about the six town hall meetings the agency is planning will be released by JSO as soon as scheduled. They will all take place in the coming weeks, and will be held before the pilot program begins.

The Sheriff' also continues his discussions with the police union, on the issue of body-worn cameras, to ensure they are included in all aspects of the program's development.