SCSO Purchasing Body Cameras

The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office will have body cameras soon for all of its deputies on the road.

Last week, the Stephens County Commission approved moving money from contingency to purchase 30 body cameras for the Sheriff’s Office.

Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley said that the Sheriff’s Office had come in under budget this year and allowed the county to take that extra money and put it into savings, so the money was coming from those savings to buy the cameras.

Shirley said that these body cameras are top-of-the-line and specially designed for public safety.

“They are designed for the vigors of the job,” said Shirley. “They have 1080p video quality, built-in HD video and audio with enhanced low light for nighttime. They are user-friendly.”

He said the 12 hour battery life is also a plus.

The sheriff said that the cameras will help the Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney with cases that go to trial and with case investigations.

Also, he said it will provide an extra layer of security for both his deputy and members of the public.

“Deputies are required at times to make split second decisions and those decisions are based on the training experience they have,” said Shirley. “Sometimes that is called into question and these cameras will assist us in that endeavor. The body cameras are that extra layer of protection for both the deputy and the public.”

Shirley said that the 30 body cameras will cost the Sheriff’s Office a total of about $27,000.