Technology has increased exponentially over the past decade, and it should come as no surprise that recording devices have been at the forefront of the technology revolution. In both quality and quantity, video devices have undergone significant improvements. As a result, it is common to see video documentation of events that would not have been available just a few years ago. Law enforcement is not immune to the influx of video documentation, and many agencies are adopting the use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) as another tool to enhance the performance and transparency of these agencies. Recently, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office completed a trial run of BWCs for a select number of deputies. Because of the successful trial, the Sheriff’s Office will soon implement the distribution and use of these cameras as standard equipment for its deputies.
On this day, we spoke with Assistant Chief Chad Ricks, whom Sheriff Michelle Cook has tasked with evaluating and implementing the body-worn camera initiative. Ricks, a 25-year veteran of law enforcement, began his career with CCSO as a Detention Deputy. He has served as a Patrol Deputy, Field Training Officer, and Investigator in Property Crimes and Robbery/Homicide. After being promoted to Sergeant and soon after to Lieutenant, Ricks served as a Watch Commander and later as a Field Force Commander. His experience as both a front-line deputy and a commander positioned him as the ideal candidate to continue the work begun by Assistant Chief Jeremy Clark. When asked how this initiative evolved, Assistant Chief Ricks explained that in 2023, Sheriff Cook observed that body-worn cameras were becoming the industry standard in larger agencies and felt it was time to evaluate their potential usefulness within CCSO. “Sheriff Cook formed a team and we began by completing extensive research into all aspects of the BWC program—including civilian and government stakeholder concerns, member concerns, policy development, and the cost of the program. We investigated ways to mitigate costs, ensure efficiency, and researched other agencies that are already using this technology. The Sheriff specifically mandated that the program be implemented the right way…not just the fast way. At that point, we looked at the top companies producing this technology,” explained Ricks. “We closely evaluated two different companies and ultimately landed on the unit made by Axon®. These units are widely used across the country, and we felt that their equipment and technology were the best match for our mission and goals.”
We asked the Assistant Chief to expound on those goals, and he shared that the objectives were multi-pronged. “First, we want to capture digital audio/video evidence to assist in criminal, civil, and traffic-related court cases. Second, this technology will assist deputies with recalling facts/details as they work to articulate a chain of events when writing reports. It is also a proven fact that the use of BWCs increases safety for law enforcement and citizens. Specifically, the footage captured from these units helps us develop training that enhances the safety of our deputies and the community. The information from BWCs allows our supervisors to have timely, efficient, and decisive resolutions to citizen complaints, which ultimately help the Sheriff’s Office promote public trust and law enforcement legitimacy through a commitment to accountability and transparency.”
When asked about the biggest questions or concerns he has received from citizens, as well as private and government stakeholders, while implementing the BWC program, Ricks explained that the top two concerns are cost management and privacy. “Sheriff Cook is committed to financial responsibility, so we are utilizing a phased approach for the implementation of these cameras. With the trial phase ending, later this summer we will equip 50 deputies with a camera. In the summer of 2026, we will add an additional 100, and in 2027 we will add another 100 units, bringing our total to 250 units. We believe that this phased approach will maximize the benefits while being efficient and judicious with taxpayer funds. Regarding privacy, we are governed by Florida Statutes and CCSO regulations that limit how the footage from these cameras can be used and distributed. While we are bound by laws surrounding public records requests, we are also bound by laws that govern the confidentiality of some types of recordings. Specifically, there are rules governing footage taken within private residences, health/mental health facilities, and other places where a court would typically assume an expectation of privacy. Because of these laws, video/audio recordings are treated the same as other records before they are released publicly. Regarding internal policy for these BWCs, users are prohibited from using a recording device (such as a cell phone camera or audio recorder, etc) to record media captured by their BWC. There are also safeguards within the software itself that prohibit the user from altering, distributing, or deleting the recordings, which also helps us retain the recordings as official records in compliance with state law.”
As our interview wound down, Assistant Chief Ricks made it clear that the use of body-worn cameras continues and reinforces that great relationship that the members of the Sheriff’s Office have with the citizens of Clay County.“In my opinion, this is another tool that helps people see how we care for the community in which we live and serve. It keeps us accountable to those whom we serve.”
Assistant Chief Ricks holds an A.S. in Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the Florida Leadership Academy (Class 40), FLETC Leadership Academy, and the Senior Leadership Program (Class 26) and currently serves as Assistant Chief of Patrol.