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Barry County approves loan and Motorola contract to upgrade radios and buy in‑car and body cameras
Summary
The Barry County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution 25‑18 to enter a three‑year installment purchase agreement with High Point Community Bank and approved a contract with Motorola/Crouch Communications to replace portable and mobile radios and acquire in‑car and body cameras; commissioners discussed deployment policy, equipment counts and grant funding.
The Barry County Board of Commissioners on June 24 adopted Resolution 25‑18 to authorize a three‑year installment purchase agreement with High Point Community Bank to finance replacement and upgrades of portable and mobile radios, in‑car cameras and body cameras for the sheriff’s department, and approved a contract with Motorola/Crouch Communications to supply the equipment.
Commissioner Hatfield introduced the financing resolution and the contract, which the board approved after roll call votes. The board also approved items on the consent agenda earlier in the meeting, including minutes from June 10 and a grant submission to MMRMA for in‑car and body cameras.
During discussion, commissioners asked how the body cameras would be used in the jail and who would wear them. County staff said cameras would be issued to each on‑shift uniformed employee and used when responding to incidents such as fights, medical events or transports. A staff member explained that activation is not continuous: “They have to be initiated by the person wearing them,” and supervisors will review activations to ensure policy compliance.
Staff said the county’s inventory includes 21 body cameras and noted transport staff would also be issued devices. Commissioners asked whether cameras might lower insurance costs; county staff said any premium change would be indirect, through reduced loss exposure and documented adherence to protocol rather than an immediate discount.
Grant funding was also discussed. Staff said a grant application for in‑car cameras could be up to $95,000 but is not guaranteed, with an early‑July deadline on one funding cycle.
The board took a roll call vote to adopt Resolution 25‑18 and later voted to approve the Motorola/Crouch Communications contract. The motions carried with recorded ayes and with two named absences noted in the roll calls.
