EPHRATA — The Grant County Sheriff’s Office announced it is applying for a federal grant to purchase 12 body cameras.

The sheriff’s office has had a Body Worn Camera (BWC) program, as well as associated policies, in place for several years, with the cameras used in its Field Operations Division (FOD), as well as in their Correctional Division (CD). The GCSO employs 50 fully commissioned law enforcement officers and 40 limited commission correctional officers, with 20 BWC’s distributed between the FOD and CD.

“It is our hopes that by continuing to build on our BWC program with increased accountability, transparency and documentation of evidence we will one day be able to equip both of our uniformed division(s) (FOD and CD) with 100 percent deployment through the recording of all critical incident encounters between our employees and the public at large,” Undersheriff Dave Ponozzo stated.

Ponozzo explained that police executives around the United States have noted the number of different ways BWC’s have aided their agencies and departments in strengthening accountability and transparency. Citing the ability of providing video records of police activities, the BWC's allow police to be more transparent and aid them following questions about encounters between police and the public, he said.

“These officials also said that body-worn cameras are helping to prevent problems from arising in the first place by increasing officer professionalism, helping agencies evaluate and improve officer performance, and allowing agencies to identify and correct larger structural problems within the department,” Ponozzo pointed out.

The sheriff’s office is required to notify the public of their intent to apply for the grant and give the public the opportunity to submit comments. People are encouraged to contact Ponozzo via email at dponozzo@grantcountywa.gov or by phone at 509-754-2011 ext. 2021 before July 11 with questions and concerns.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.