Orange County NC Website
8 <br /> State should be allowed to set standards regarding the issue of equipment. He said this is not <br /> done with firearms, uniforms, cars, etc. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said the camera issue is a big one, and the legislation has to be re- <br /> written. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs asked if the retention timeframes are best practices only. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said yes. He said the cost for unlimited cloud for 20 cameras, for <br /> one year would be $105,800, and for 60 cameras would be $315,560. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said the first year would be about $500,000, and the most <br /> costs come with the storage. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said yes. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs thanked the Sheriff for sharing his honest thoughts. He said the <br /> issue of cost is more troubling than the actual concept of the body cameras, and it is probably <br /> too late since the public will expect law enforcement to have body cameras. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said he would encourage the Sheriff to think this through, but he <br /> believes it is likely unavoidable. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said he knows the legislation will probably require body cameras. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said long term it will be to the benefit for law enforcement to <br /> have body cameras. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said there are more reasons to have them than not. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier asked if anything else is being considered to build and/or keep <br /> trust between the community and law enforcement. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said that is the purpose of the community discussions. <br /> Commissioner Rich said she is conflicted with the General Assembly saying what can <br /> and cannot be done. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said the mechanism is there to have footage released, it just <br /> requires a court order. <br /> Commissioner Rich said if and when cameras are used, she wanted to make sure the <br /> best equipment is secured. <br /> Commissioner Price said she respected the Sheriff and his point of view, but there is <br /> always the potential for an officer(s) that probably should never have been hired. She said for <br /> the safety of citizens, and to protect their own officers, body cameras are needed. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said this is a national issue of trust/distrust. He said it is critical <br /> to have body cameras/video as another evidentiary tool. He said there is a racial component <br /> to this discussion as well. He wanted to know if it is the will of this Board to have these <br /> cameras, and what needs to be done to address the Sheriff's concerns. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said he would like the BOCC to commit to him that his department <br /> will not have to give up the car cameras, that each officer receives a body camera, and that he <br /> will not get crucified if he does not release a video, per the legislation. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin said these requests seem eminently reasonable to him. <br /> Commissioner Burroughs said she felt that costs should not be a barrier to purchasing <br /> and implementing body cameras. She is in favor of moving forward. <br /> Commissioner Rich said as the issue moves forward, she asked Sheriff Blackwood to <br /> continue to share his concerns if any come up. She said there must be mutual trust. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said he supported the conversation thus far, and he suggested <br /> the Sheriff come back with a more concrete cost proposal. <br /> Sheriff Blackwood said he has reached out to other sheriffs and has been in touch with <br /> vendors. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said with the issue of releasing videos, they should come up with <br /> a policy together on this topic, if the law remains the same. He said the Board may want the <br />