Body cameras could be coming soon for Centre County sheriff’s deputies
Deputies in the Centre County Sheriff’s Office could soon be wearing body cameras, equipment officials say will increase safety and transparency in the community.
In order to enhance the protection of residents and officers, the board of commissioners voted Tuesday to move forward with an agreement that would provide the sheriff with 14 body cameras. Moved to next week’s consent agenda, the contract with Axon Enterprise, Inc. totals at $62,594.
“I think it’s the wave of the future,” Sheriff Bryan Sampsel said.
Funding for the cameras was accounted for in the proposed 2020 budget, but Sampsel said his office is applying for a grant to reduce the cost for the county. With an initial payment of $19,483, the body cameras will come with a yearly payment of $10,777, beginning Dec. 13 and run through 2024.
“It sounds like a great idea (that will) increase the safety of our duties and also the general public,” Commissioner Mark Higgins said.
Every two and a half years, the body cameras and their accessories will be upgraded.
If the contract is approved, deputies in the sheriff’s office will join State College, Ferguson, Patton and Spring township police departments in wearing the cameras.
Penn State and state police remain without cameras but expressed a desire to add or research their implementation earlier this year. In September, District Attorney Bernie Cantorna offered financial assistance to the Bellefonte Borough to help purchase body cameras for its local police department, which is the only municipal department in the county without the equipment.
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 10:33 AM.
