The Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office is seeking the public's input on its new body-worn camera policy.
Comments may be submitted to webmaster@vbso.net and will be collected until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 24, 2023.
Thanks to funding approved in March by the Virginia Beach City Council, the Virginia Beach Sheriff's Office (VBSO) is beginning to equip its deputy sheriffs with body-worn cameras ahead of the busy summer tourism season and upcoming events, including the Something in the Water festival. VBSO deputies serve as force multipliers for the Virginia Beach Police Department.
Virginia law requires that law enforcement agencies establish a body-worn camera policy before deploying the cameras and make the policy available for public comment and review (§15.2-1723.1).
The Virginia Beach City Council has authorized initial funding for 220 cameras for the VBSO and money for an additional 280 cameras on July 1, 2023, enough for each of its 400 sworn deputy sheriffs. The VBSO requested the body-worn cameras to improve safety and accountability for both the public and its deputies as they execute their public safety mission both inside and outside the Virginia Beach Correctional Center.
Questions or requests for additional information from the news media should be directed to Strategic Communications Consultant Kathy Hieatt at khieatt@vbso.net or (757) 570-9123 or Public Information Officer Toni Guagenti at tguagenti@vbso.net or (757) 385-8446.