Sheriff’s Office: body cameras cut complaints, deputies cite staffing and equipment cost pressures

Chief Deputy Arlo Norman told the Washington County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 6 that the Sheriff’s Office’s recent investments in training and body-worn cameras have changed department operations and community complaints.

"The truth is seen when watching the footage," Chief Deputy Arlo Norman said, describing how camera recordings have led to fewer citizen complaints and have also revealed instances where officers acted improperly. Norman said the department and county staff attended active-shooter training and coordinated with fire chiefs on traffic and crowd control, and that EMS would support care once a scene was secure.

Norman warned the board about rising equipment costs: he said radios cost roughly $1,000 per unit and noted that orders may be partial because of budget constraints. He also described ankle-monitoring expenses and operational setbacks: the county had units that cost about $0.70 per day when unused and $3.00 per day when in use; the department returned most units and kept two for use after an individual removed a unit and left it out of county.

Commissioners asked about school resource officer coverage and pay as a recruitment factor. Norman said current staffing could cover schools but that recruitment pressure is national; he noted a new state requirement that sheriff’s-office hires undergo a psych evaluation, which raises hiring costs. Norman said he prefers to recruit local candidates who are more likely to remain in the community.

The board did not take policy action on these operational matters in this session, but later authorized spending over $90,000 for radios and ambulances in a separate vote following a closed-session discussion.