The Volusia County Sheriff's Office continues to move closer to implementing its body camera program.

The agency launched a field test Monday for body cameras for its deputies in the field. The two-month test is expected to be one of the last steps toward outfitting more than 150 of the agency's deputies with body cameras to record and document evidence as they carry out their enforcement duties.

Sheriff Ben Johnson said he's anxious to deploy cameras in the field and is confident that their use will be embraced by the community.

"Body cameras are another tool to help ensure accountability and transparency in all that we do," Johnson said in a statement. "Once we start using the cameras and document what we do, it should eliminate many of the questions that arise because the recorded evidence will be there for everyone to see."

The agency established a multidisciplinary task team to examine the issues related to the body cameras, such as equipment capabilities, software needs, evidence storage, retention and public records issues, policy development and training, legal, privacy, purchasing and personnel issues.

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office also has worked with the State Attorney's Office to ensure the camera recordings meet the evidentiary needs of prosecutors tasked with preparing criminal cases for trial.

"This is a hugely important issue that involves a significant commitment of resources," Johnson said. "It demands a comprehensive, thoughtful and deliberative decision-making process in order to ensure that the public's interests are protected in this very important decision."

The Sheriff's Office has narrowed its choices to two different types of body cameras. Several deputies working both the day and night shifts in the northwest area of Volusia County will wear one of the two types of cameras being considered.

After 30 days, the deputies will switch body cameras.

The cameras will be used during a variety of circumstances, such as in-progress crimes, arrests, traffic stops, traffic crashes, use-of-force incidents, foot and motor vehicle pursuits and certain criminal investigative contacts.

At the conclusion of the field test, the results will be evaluated and a decision will be made on which camera to move forward with. Once a camera is selected, the county will begin negotiating a contract with the vendor for 180 cameras to be worn by the Sheriff's Office's patrol deputies, as well as deputies assigned to various patrol-oriented specialized units.

The contract will require Volusia County Council approval. The exact cost of the body camera program won't be known until the contract is negotiated, but the Sheriff's Office has set aside money that was confiscated in criminal cases to pay for the cameras and the associated software and storage needs.

"While they won't answer every question or settle every controversy, there's no doubt that body cameras are great tools for capturing and documenting rapidly-evolving events as they unfold," Johnson said. "I'm confident that the benefits to the community, judges and juries and officers in the field will be well worth the cost."