Branch County Sheriff's Office implements bodycams, dashcams
COLDWATER, Mich. (WOOD) — The has recently implemented surveillance cameras for its deputies, including body-worn cameras and dash-mounted cameras within vehicles.
Ottawa County deputies begin using dashboard cameras
The BCSO says the County Board of Commissioners approved the purchase and implementation back in January. They have a five-year contract in place with Motorola Solutions valued at more than $500,000.
'Sheriff Fred Blankenship has indicated that the deployment of these cameras aims to enhance transparency and accountability within the Office of Sheriff,' the BCSO .
'While the introduction of this technology may lead to an increase in Freedom of Information Act requests, it is expected to provide valuable documentation of law enforcement interactions, thereby supporting both public trust and officer safety.'
The BCSO also expects the footage will help them prosecute criminals.
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As of , the Branch County Sheriff's Office was one of five county departments in West Michigan that had not adopted body-worn cameras.
The Ottawa County Sheriff's Office also adopted body-worn cameras and dashcams in recent months. Sheriff Eric DeBoer said in addition to transparency and prosecution, footage recorded by these cameras can also show all of the good deeds that deputies and first responders do for the community.
'There was a situation (recently) where two deputies saved a woman's life by performing CPR. … It enabled us to showcase to our deputies, 'This is the work we're doing out here every day, these are two of your co-workers saving a life,'' DeBoer told News 8 .
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