This budget year, we will achieve another of our goals here at the BCSO. That is, we will have installed dashboard cameras in all our patrol cars.

The importance of dash cams to law enforcement cannot be overstated. They serve as an impartial witness to traffic stops and other activity, and are invaluable in court cases where a citizen’s account of an incident differs from that of an officer.

Because the cameras also record audio, almost everything said during a stop is recorded as well, and the audio and video are admissible as evidence in court. When there are different accounts of an incident, the video can settle the truth of the matter. Often, no one is intentionally lying, people may just have different recollections of an incident, or perhaps they don’t remember all the details. Dash cams don’t take sides. They protect both the deputy and citizens.

Recently, a woman reported that one of our deputies had made improper advances and propositioned her during a traffic stop. In this case, however, after reviewing the dash cam footage, it was obvious the woman was not telling the truth. The deputy had conducted himself and the traffic stop strictly by the book. He was exonerated and the woman’s story exposed as faulty, protecting the deputy.

By that same token, should a deputy intentionally misuse his or her authority and behave in an unprofessional or inappropriate manner towards a citizen, the cameras will give administrators a truthful account of the event so appropriate action can be taken to protect citizens and enforce policy.

Without dash cams, frivolous lawsuits against the Sheriff’s Office are much more likely, as it often comes down to one’s word against another. Preventing just one phony court case pays for these cameras a thousand times over.

If a deputy has to be concerned that each encounter with the public could potentially lead to them having to defend themselves in court, it can obviously interfere with the execution of their duties. Dash cams don’t lie, they don’t change their mind, they don’t have to rely on a faulty recollection of events ~ they simply document what is said and done.

Again, the importance of dash cams to law enforcement cannot be overstated and I am pleased (as are our deputies) that we now have this important tool complete in our arsenal. Crime never rests and those who are responsible for stopping crime deserve every advantage we can give them.

(The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office is located at 2290 Blythe Ave., SE, Cleveland 37311. You can call us at (423) 728-7300. If you would like to contact me personally, email: comments@bradleysheriff.com)