Onslow law enforcement to wear body cameras - WCTI12.com
JACKSONVILLE, Onslow County — The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office will add an extra layer of security and transparency with body cameras.
County Commissioners voted Monday to accept a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to start the body camera system.
Sheriff Hans Miller said they will be getting 93 body cameras for all uniformed staff to help avoid any unnecessary lawsuits and for increased transparency, something people in Onslow County said they are happy about.
“Openness, that the doors are open for the public to understand what’s going on in their government because it is the government of the people,” said Jan Smith.
That’s what Smith said it means for local agencies to be transparent and that body cameras at the sheriff's office will do just that.
“I’m very happy. I’m happy for the deputies and I’m happy for the public; it’s for everyone’s safety,” said Smith.
That's why Miller said he has worked for several years to get cameras on all uniformed staff.
“The patrol officers, the civil officers, people that serve papers and warrant squads will have those cameras because the interactions with our citizens are going to be very beneficial as they have been for many years,” said Miller.
In addition to building trust, Miller said body cameras will increase accountability.
“It’s a constant reminder that as a uniformed officer, you have to be professional at all times, that’s good on our side but also ensures the citizens that they are going to be treated professionally,” he said.
He said the cost of the cameras is lower than usual because the sheriff's office will lease them.
Half the cost will be covered by the nearly $130,000 in grants from the Department of Justice and the other half, the sheriff said they will match.
“It will come from initially the first year from my budget and that is because we were so short staffed, we have additional money available from salary," said Miller.
That's another thing Smith considered a plus to having the extra security in Onslow County.
“I think that it gives us another degree of openness and assurance and safety for everyone, and better yet, it’s through a grant so it’s not so much coming out of the county budget," she said.
Miller said another plus to the cameras is that they will have an automatic trigger that turns them on when deputies are on duty.
source: https://wcti12.com/news/local/onslow-law-enforcement-to-wear-body-cameras
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