FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — All Veterans Health Care System of the Ozarks (VHSO) police officers will start wearing body cameras on Dec. 21.
"We take a lot of pride in what we do and it's going to show our transparency—how we deal with the veterans and their family members every day," Norman DelaVega, a training manager with the VHSO police, said to 5NEWS. "It will also give our veterans confidence in us because if we're willing to wear the body cam and show our interactions with them, it just gives them a sense of fulfillment."
The cameras will be in use when an officer fires a weapon, turns on their emergency lights in the police vehicle, and while conducting an investigation. Not only will they be required to wear body cameras, but they are also required to have the in-car cameras turned on during traffic stops, when responding to calls, and while transporting those in custody.
VA law enforcement prepared for this new policy with extensive training to ensure the use of the cameras will not infringe on the privacy of members of the public, according to the press release. The footage from the cameras will only be used for investigations.
“Using dashcams and bodycams will make our facilities even safer—building trust in our great police force while increasing transparency and promoting de-escalation,” VA Secretary Dennis McDonough said in a press release.
The VA police force is implementing this policy after President Biden signed an executive order on May 25, 2022, that called for reforms to federal law enforcement agencies. Part of the order requires all federal law enforcement agencies to wear body cameras "to promote transparency and protect the privacy and civil rights of members of the public."
The Cleland-Dole Act of 2022 specifically requires the VA's law enforcement department to "use cameras worn on the individual police officer's person that record and store audio and video."
DelaVega hopes this new policy will build trust with veterans "as we trust them because we are here for the veterans."
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