LA PLATA, Md. — The Charles County Police Accountability Board (PAB) held its first meeting of 2025 on April 24, with updates from law enforcement on the implementation of body-worn cameras.
The meeting, chaired by Chairman Johnson, included the attendance of Capt. John Dodge and Lt. Kenneth Klezia, both from the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Professional Responsibility Division, as well as Jerome Spencer from the Sheriff’s Office legal team. The La Plata Police Department officials were not in attendance.
Capt. Dodge reported that as of April 24, 160 body-worn cameras had been issued within the Sheriff’s Office. By May 9, that number is expected to rise to 211, keeping the department on track to meet the state’s July 1, 2025, deadline for full compliance.
During the meeting, Dodge addressed a board member’s question about how much investigations rely on video footage. He emphasized that while video is helpful, it does not replace the need for a complete and thorough investigation.
“We still go through the full process. We’re interviewing everyone who was there. We’re interviewing any witnesses we can find just because we have video that appears to paint the picture,” Dodge said. “The investigation does not stop there. Now, the video helps when it’s available to exonerate or to sustain charges, but it in and of itself is never what is going to—the investigation is not going to hinge solely just on the video.”
According to the Charles County Sheriff’s Office body-worn camera policy, officers are required to wear body-worn cameras throughout their shifts as part of their uniforms. Officers must activate their body-worn cameras at the start of a police call, before engaging with the public, during investigative or enforcement encounters, or when any situation becomes confrontational. Cameras also automatically activate when emergency equipment is engaged in patrol vehicles.
“These devices not only protect the rights of citizens but also provide an unbiased record of our officers’ actions. 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,” said Sheriff Berry.
The April 24 meeting is available for public viewing on CCGTV.
The Charles County Police Accountability Board is charged with holding meetings at least quarterly with law enforcement agency leadership, appointing civilian members to charging committees and trial boards, receiving public complaints of police misconduct, reviewing outcomes of disciplinary matters, and recommending changes to improve police accountability.
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please don’t think this fixes it. There are many things that should be changed about the4 criminal justice system. Annapolis has done almost nothing about the changes I’d like to see be ,made,. We’ll remember that this happened sede vacante, also said Sedes Vacans .
Are we going to be allowed to ask for footage that the light was really red? Are we going to be able to ask for footage that we were really going the speed we were going? You should always ask the officer why they gave you a ticket instead of a warning.
unfortunately, this doesn’t allow officers to reduce a fine\ reduce the points. This doesn’t allow an officer to give a drunk a ride home occasionally instead of to jail,.