NEWS

Sheriff's office buys deputies new body cams

Joe Williams
Reporter
The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office has purchased 27 body cameras that are worn on the chest of deputies' uniforms.

COSHOCTON - County Sheriff Timothy Rogers said he believes that voluntarily providing his deputies with body cameras, though a bit of a "financial burden," is "a positive step forward" that follows a national trend.

Last week, Rogers' office distributed 27 new body cameras to patrol, canine and civil officers through a five-year lease agreement with Motorola, according to Lt. Dean Hettinger.

Deputy Wesly Wright Eppley used his new body camera for the first time while working a double shift Thursday. He found the video quality to be clear, even at night, and the sound quality high.

Wright Eppley had been using his own body cam for the past year and a half. He views the device as a tool to better himself.

"I always use it to protect myself as a deputy," he said, "and it's also very informative for my reports."

The cost of the new equipment's lease agreement for the first year will be just over $40,000, Hettinger said. Annual payments of $15,000 will follow in the second, third and fourth years, with a final payment of $18,000 to cover the last year.

The cameras list for $800 each, Hettinger said, but Motorola gave the county special pricing and concessions, since the sheriff's office is the first department in the state to use the company's cameras.

The devices will generate a "massive amount of data," Hettinger said, which will require electronic storage.

Coshocton County Deputy Sheriff Wesly Wright Eppley demonstrates the use of new body cameras. The device attaches to his uniform, records video and audio, captures photographs, and acts as a wireless microphone for his radio. He can remove the device to manage content and to turn it  around while in use so others can see themselves being recorded.

"The hardware is the least expensive part," Hettinger said. "It's the software and the data retention that ends up being the most costly part."

The county's insurer, the County Risk Sharing Authority, or CORSA, provided an $8,100 grant to help pay for the cameras, with the rest coming out of the department's budget, Hettinger said.

Under the agreement, the cameras will be replaced with the latest versions about halfway through the lease.

"When the technology changes, we'll be upgraded automatically," Rogers said. "We're excited about that."

The new devices should prove beneficial by clearly showing what occurs during a call and should reduce the time officers spend in court, Rogers said.

"We know that the cameras in cars have reduced court time dramatically," he said. "It's hard to dispute what you see on film."

The very presence of the cameras on the officers could also have an effect on every encounter, Rogers said.

"I think it'll make a difference on both sides. Anybody being recorded is going to act different, usually," he said.

Switching over to the new cameras also required updating the office's existing Motorola radios with GPS and Bluetooth capabilities, Hettinger said.

"The body cam replaces our mic, so our body cam is not only a camera, it also talks to our radio," Hettinger said.

The body cams have touchscreen capabilities, look like bulky smart phones and capture clear audio and video, he said.

"This video is not intended to be Hollywood," Hettinger said. "We're not making movies. This is to protect the officer and gather evidence."

About 10 officers had previously purchased their own body cameras over the past several years to gather evidence and protect themselves against false claims, Hettinger said. The new units will replace them, too.

Within the past two years, the office began looking for grants and comparing available cameras, Hettinger said.

The cameras will provide a system of "checks and balances," Hettinger said. The video can be used to train officers, help settle complaints and possibly reduce time in court, he said.

Hettinger said the office hopes that once a defense attorney looks at video and sees how good the state's case is, he or she might work out a plea deal and never take the case to trial.

The cameras will provide officers with "another tool for the officer to use. We anticipate some growing pains with it," Hettinger said.

Coshocton County Deputy Sheriff Wesly Wright Eppley demonstrates the use of new body cameras. The device attaches to his uniform, records video and audio, captures photographs, and acts as a wireless microphone for his radio.

For now, managing the vast amount of data collected will be the biggest challenge, he said. However, battery life and camera placement could also become issues.

"The units themselves are outstanding," he said. "The video is very clear. The audio is exceptional. The units seem durable."

Public and media access to body cam video requires a public records request submitted to the sheriff's office, County Prosecutor Jason Given said via email. So far, while some deputies have been wearing their own cameras, Given's office has not fielded any requests for video access, he said. Such requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis, he said.

jwilliams6@gannett.com

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Twitter: @JoeTribune

The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office has purchased 27 body cameras that are worn on the chest of their uniforms. The device can be turned around while in use so others can see themselves being recorded.