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SF mayor won’t fund body cameras in scandal-ridden county jail

Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi requested $242,000 to help pay for body cameras for his deputies

By C1 Staff

SAN FRANCISCO — Despite giving millions to fund police body cameras, the San Francisco mayor denied a request to place such cameras on officers inside the city’s jail.

The SF Examiner reports that Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi requested $242,000 to help pay for body cameras for his deputies.

While the mayor skipped over body cameras for jail deputies, the sheriff did receive $11 million to pay for staffing and additional equipment, including replacement of the security electronics system in two county jail facilities and for surveillance cameras in the jails.

The mayor also refused to fund a task force to investigate allegations of fighting in the jails. Sheriff’s deputies are accused of staging fights between inmates in the jail.

Public trust in police is also hurting after several were convicted of corruption and others were found to be exchanging bigoted text messages.

Though Mirkarimi won’t receive funding from the mayor for body cameras inside correctional facilities, the sheriff will receive $50,000 in discretionary funds for a pilot camera program. The requested $242,000 would have paid for about 135 cameras over two years.

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