LA PLATA, Md. — All sworn officers in the Charles County Sheriff’s Office and La Plata Police Department are now equipped with body-worn cameras — a major milestone in transparency, accountability and community trust.
The update was shared during the Charles County Police Accountability Board’s quarterly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025, at the County Government Building in La Plata. The meeting included updates from law enforcement leaders across the county, who confirmed that all sworn officers in Charles County and La Plata are now wearing body-worn cameras — hitting 100% implementation in accordance with the state’s deadline.
A Long-Term Goal, Now Achieved
The body-worn camera program began in 2024 when the Charles County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) launched a phased rollout under Sheriff Troy D. Berry. With support from the Charles County Commissioners, the department built policies, trained officers and installed the technology needed to support the new tools.
By summer 2025, more than 200 CCSO officers were equipped with cameras, staying on track to meet Maryland’s July 1 compliance deadline. La Plata Police worked closely with the county to match CCSO’s standards, equipment and training for a seamless countywide rollout.
“These devices not only protect the rights of citizens but also provide an unbiased record of our officers’ actions,” Sheriff Berry said in a previous announcement. “We welcome the implementation of body-worn cameras as a tool that not only safeguards the public but also ensures the highest standards of professionalism among our law enforcement personnel.”
Every Officer, Every Shift: Cameras Now In Use
Under CCSO’s policy, officers must turn on their cameras when responding to calls, before interacting with the public, and during any enforcement or investigative activity. Cameras also activate automatically whenever a patrol vehicle’s emergency lights are turned on.
Videos are stored according to state guidelines and can be released to the public under the Maryland Public Information Act, with redactions made to protect personal information. Any potential release is coordinated with the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Frequently Asked Questions about Body-Worn Cameras
- When is the CCSO Body-Worn Camera Program going to start?
Deployment of body-worn cameras for CCSO officers began with a pilot program and the Agency expects all officers to be trained and have their new devices operational in 2025.
- Who will wear the body-worn cameras?
CCSO officers will be issued a body-worn camera, and the camera will generally be worn when working on an operational assignment.
- Will CCSO members receive training before using the body-worn camera?
Before being issued a body-worn camera, CCSO members will be required to complete training related to the operation of the device and review CCSO’s body-worn camera policy.
- When will CCSO officers wear the body-worn camera?
Body-worn cameras are generally worn on duty for the entirety of the officer’s shift as a part of their uniform.
- When must an officer activate their BWC?
Officers will manually activate BWCs at the outset of a call for service, during encounters with members of the public that are investigative or enforcement in nature, or during any encounter that becomes confrontational in nature. BWCs are automatically activated every time an officer turns on emergency equipment in a patrol car.
Officers will activate BWCs for legitimate law enforcement purposes only. The cameras record video from the 60 seconds before their activation. An officer who activates a BWC for a law enforcement purpose will not intentionally deactivate it without a clear investigative purpose.
When responding to K through 12 educational institutions, hospitals, or other medical facilities, officers will refrain from activating the camera unless necessary for law enforcement purposes. To the extent possible, officers will protect medical privacy.
- Will a person be made aware that they are being recorded?
CCSO officers are required to inform any person at the start of any recording that audio and video are being recorded by the officer’s body-worn camera, unless unsafe, impractical, or impossible to do so.
- Will members of the public be able to view body-worn camera recordings?
CCSO will release BWC footage consistent with the Maryland Public Information Act and other applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations and in consultation with the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office. Each video will be assessed on a case-by-case basis to ensure a timely release without negatively impacting a criminal investigation or prosecution.
External requests for recordings, other than from law enforcement agencies, will be processed in accordance with CCSO’s Public Access to Records policy. Any third party that is not a law-enforcement agency will pay any costs associated with the preparation, review, and production of body-worn camera videos.
Requests for video records should be sent to the CCSO’s Records Section via the Agency website at https://ccso-md.nextrequest.com
- How long will BWC footage be retained?
The retention time for footage will vary depending on the type of incident or investigation of which it is a part.
- Will my private information be redacted before the release of BWC footage?
Yes, private information will be redacted before a video’s release in compliance with all records release laws and regulations.
- Can an officer delete recordings?
No, an officer cannot delete or alter recordings.
“As we move forward, we are committed to leveraging these tools responsibly, ensuring they become an integral part of our commitment to justice and the shared goal of fostering safer, more secure neighborhoods for all,” Sheriff Berry said.
In-Car Camera System Still Being Streamlined
While the body-worn camera program is fully operational, the Sheriff’s Office noted ongoing technical challenges with streamlining its in-car camera system. The issue involves software integration related to downloading and linking footage. The agency’s IT team is actively working to improve the process. Despite the hurdles, officers are still able to access and share footage with those who need it, and the system continues to function — just not as seamlessly as intended.
Ongoing Oversight And Community Input
The Police Accountability Board continues to meet with law enforcement leaders each quarter to review progress, discuss community input and track any disciplinary outcomes. The Oct. 23 meeting also kicked off planning for the board’s next annual report, which is due in December.
This successful rollout fulfills a key requirement of the Maryland Police Accountability Act and shows what’s possible when local agencies and the community work together.
The full meeting is available to watch on the Charles County Government Television (CCGTV) website.
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