Bexar County Commissioners approve body camera upgrades, new Tasers

Bexar County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $3 million upgrade for body cameras and Tasers for deputies. The vote came after debate over a commissioners' mandate for video releases. Sheriff Javier Salazar told commissioners the upgrades will help his department meet the commissioners' 10-day mandate for videos to be released when use of force is involved during encounters with the public. The upgrades will allow for videos to be processed faster, said department officials. Commissioner Rebeca Clay-Flores was among those to vote for the upgrades, but she exacted a promise from the sheriff to release such videos in a timely manner after showing them to family members first. "Assuming that we pass this technology, then you are committed, assuming we can reach the families first, to approve the 10-day policy," asked Clay-Flores of the sheriff.

"Yes," the sheriff replied. The cameras automatically roll at scenes when weapons come out. Simone Coleman — whose friend Damian Daniels was shot to death by a Bexar County deputy in 2020 during a mental health call — was all for the upgrades as long as the sheriff would release videos in a timely manner. "As long as they can do the same thing that Dallas does and turnover body cam footage in 72 hours. Or let's say Austin that does it in 10 days or even better. Let's say that my 13-year-old daughter and her classmates can edit that footage themselves and have it to you in 24 hours," she said. A grand jury declined to indict a deputy involved in the shooting of Daniels. Sheriff Salazar told commissioners he could likely implement the 10-day policy in 120 days, but Clay-Flores suggested 60 days. The sheriff said he did not want to overpromise to the court on implementation. Commissioner Tommy Calvert told the court that in the last two years, there have been 21 incidents between deputies and the public that meet the criteria for body cameras to have been rolling. He also questioned the need for the new spending on body cameras. He said the current system had the capabilities needed to meet the ten-day mandate. Calvert added the money might be better spent on other needs of the sheriff's department. The upgrade also comes with new Tasers. Salazar reports 85% of those Tasers currently in-use by deputies are at end-of-life and could malfunction during critical moments.