Body Cameras For Sheriff's Deputies Ok'ed By County Council

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TASER body camera

DeLand, FL-Update: Volusia County Council Thursday approved the purchase of body-worn cameras for deputies. Earlier reporting follows: When Volusia County Council meets this week it will consider the purchase of body cameras for VCSO deputies. The nearly $2.5 million dollar cost will be paid for from the law enforcement trust fund and includes software and equipment, implementation and the estimated annual maintenance over the first five years of the program.

Sheriff Ben Johnson, in an interview in January with WNDB's Marc Bernier, said he was taking a slow and careful approach choosing the equipment and then figuring out planning for the continued cost of storage of the video, the man hours needed to redact the video and working with the State Attorney's Office on making sure everything was being done as the law requires. Johnson said it would be easy to rush into body cameras and then get a nasty surprise down the road on the continued cost of storage and maintenance. Johnson said storage of video in the cloud is an issue because the "integrity" of the video can't be guaranteed. VCC meets Thursday in DeLand. The law enforcement trust fund includes money and proceeds surrendered and/or confiscated from criminal cases.

Photo of TASER camera unit from TASER.

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