( CINCINNATI, OH ) -- It was announced that by mid-June 2017, Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputies will all be fitted with body-worn cameras.
Along with Hamilton County Commissioners Todd Portune and Denise Driehaus, Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Neil made the announcement, saying that this was not a decision of his and the commissioners alone. Sheriff Neil says that his deputies had requested body cameras, as they feel it will protect them and other citizens they come in contact with.
Sheriff Neil says that while the cameras will be a monitor for themselves, it will also be a monitor for those that his deputies come in contact with, so that no frivolous lawsuits are tying up the court system and costing the department and taxpayers money.
Commissioner Todd Portune says that this idea has been around since 2015 and Sheriff Neil had already done a pilot program with cameras in Lincoln Heights. Commissioner Portune stresses that this in no way is in reaction to the incident between former UC Officer Ray Tensing and Samuel Dubose.
The cameras will initially cost $250,000 to purchase and install. The county is putting forth $125,000 towards the program and a federal grant is matching their money to pay for the rest. Annually after that, they believe the upkeep will cost $125,000.