Ruling On Body Cams: Use Must Be Negotiated
When it comes to his deputies use of body cameras, Jacksonville Florida Sheriff Mike Williams will be making some changes after a ruling that body cam policies and practices must be negotiated with the union.
“We do not oppose the use of body cams, but we do have concerns.” – Steve Zona, president, Florida FOP Lodge 5-30
The Florida State Public Employees Commission ruled recently that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office must be in agreement with the local police union about everything regarding body cameras. Williams will have to negotiate with the Fraternal Order of Police on how exactly the cameras will be used.
FOP President Steven Zona said his association is not opposed to the use of body cameras.
“We don’t want to negatively impact the sheriff’s program,” Zona said. “We’re not against the cameras. We don’t oppose them coming.”
The FOP will formally ask the Sheriff’s Office to put this issue back on the table for bargaining, citing some concerns. “Discipline issues — how they are used for discipline, the privacy issues and when they’ve got to turn them off and off and things like that,” Zona said.
It is expected that the ruling will impact all Florida law enforcement agencies and that in the future details on the use of body cameras must be negotiated with the police association.
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