Unknown whether Dewey Beach police’s sole bodycam was in use during shooting

By Craig Anderson
Posted 3/29/22

DEWEY BEACH — While Dewey Beach police acknowledged the possession of one body-worn camera in its agency Tuesday, a spokesman didn’t disclose whether it was in use during a fatal …

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Unknown whether Dewey Beach police’s sole bodycam was in use during shooting

Posted

DEWEY BEACH — While Dewey Beach police acknowledged the possession of one body-worn camera in its agency Tuesday, a spokesman didn’t disclose whether it was in use during a fatal officer-involved shooting March 19.

Though the Dewey Beach department doesn’t have a specific body camera program or related policies, Sgt. Cliff Dempsey said it is evaluating an Intrensic camera for a trial period.

“Our agency has been testing and evaluating this BWC for sometime now,” he said.

The investigation into the shooting death of Rodney K. Robinson II, 21, of Milford, continues, and Sgt. Dempsey noted that “if this body camera is relevant to the investigation, that information will be released by the Delaware State Police.”

In addition to DSP, the Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust is investigating.

Mr. Robinson was fatally shot in the upper torso by one of two pursuing Dewey Beach police officers, who were initially called to The Starboard restaurant at approximately 2:23 a.m., authorities said. Staff had called 911 to report that a man previously in possession of a handgun had returned to the establishment, police added.

According to DSP, the man, later identified as Mr. Robinson, fled the area on foot after an attempted contact by the officers. He eventually ran west on Saulsbury Street, turned into an alley and was shot, police said, adding that a handgun was located in his vicinity.

The unidentified officer involved in the shooting was placed on standard administrative leave with pay and benefits pending the outcome of the investigation.

DSP released preliminary details on the incident at a news conference the day of the shooting but none since, as the investigation proceeds.

Passed in 2021, Senate Bill 195 required that police officers and certain employees of the Department of Correction and the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families to use and wear a body camera.

In December 2021, Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Nathaniel McQueen Jr. asked municipal police agencies that did not currently have body-worn cameras to provide the number of cameras requested and to identify one of the three selected vendors (Axon, Coban and WatchGuard) to service their agency, spokesman Arshon Howard said.

Agencies were asked to respond to DSHS with their need and preferred vendor by Jan. 7, 2022.

Sgt. Dempsey said Tuesday, “Our agency is part of “Phase One” of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security Body Worn Camera initiative, and we are waiting for the state’s approval to purchase BWC‘s for the Dewey Beach Police Department.”

As of press time Tuesday, DSHS was not able to provide a list of which police agencies do and do not currently utilize body cameras, along with how agencies have responded to the Jan. 7 deadline.

According to Mr. Howard, “Axon equipment purchases for State and municipal law enforcement agencies that currently do not have cameras are a priority and are expected to begin by summer 2022.

“Once the equipment is distributed, each police agency will be responsible for managing its own individual body worn camera program in accordance with the final Council on Police Training regulations on body worn cameras.”

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