Plan could equip DuPage sheriff's deputies with body cameras

DuPage sheriff's deputies could be equipped with body cameras in the coming year if county officials can find more than $1.1 million to pay for them.

Sheriff John Zaruba said he wants to replace aging video cameras in his department's squad cars with a new integrated recording system that would include body cameras for every deputy, whether assigned to patrol, jail or courthouse duty.

"We're anticipating that this is coming," Zaruba said of the body cameras. "Since we have old equipment that needs to be replaced, why spend money on old technology? Let's start now and build."

Zaruba discussed his equipment request Tuesday as part of a budget presentation to members of the DuPage County Board's finance committee.

Chief James Kruse told county board members the sheriff's department "would be remiss" not to propose the body camera idea for DuPage.

"We all know the media has latched onto this," Kruse said. "Many other law enforcement agencies are instituting this. We felt it would be our due diligence to introduce that."

Zaruba said he supports the use of body cameras because studies show the devices help reduce complaints against police officers by more than 50 percent.

However, county officials need to determine how to pay for the proposal. It's estimated to cost more than $1.1 million to replace all the existing cameras in the vehicles, purchase the body cameras and buy the equipment needed to store the video footage.

While there is a significant upfront cost, Zaruba said the integrated proposal would save the county money in the long run because it uses the same system to store data from both the vehicle cameras and the body cameras. The biggest cost associated with the cameras is storing of data, he said.

"It's a better system," Zaruba said. "It's quick. It's easy to work with."

Until a final decision about body cameras is made, DuPage officials are expected to examine whether there are ways to raise money.

State lawmakers are considering a $5 increase on all traffic tickets to help departments pay for body cameras and increased officer training.

In addition, DuPage officials are looking into whether the sheriff's office can qualify for grants from the federal government. "I'm hoping ... there will be other grants available," Kruse said.

Meanwhile, Zaruba is requesting a budget of roughly $40.9 million for the sheriff's office for the 2016 fiscal year. That's about $500,000 more than the department's current budget.

He isn't asking to increase the department's head count, which stands at 518 full-time employees. Of those employees, 418 are sworn deputies.

County board members have until Nov. 30 to approve a final draft of the budget. The county's fiscal year starts Dec. 1.