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Sheriff's Office body cameras and opioid-fund equipment approved by commissioners
Summary
The Board approved a LensLock body-camera contract for the Sheriff's Office and authorized opioid-fund purchases totaling $112,671.12 for evidence lockers, a narcotics incinerator and a transport vehicle; the coroner's SPLOST-funded stretcher was also approved.
Meriwether County commissioners on April 13 approved several purchases intended to improve law-enforcement evidence handling and public-safety operations.
The Board authorized the county to sign a LensLock body-worn camera agreement for the Sheriff's Office after county legal reviewed the contract; County Administrator John Gorton said the vendor required the county rather than the sheriff's office to hold the agreement. County Attorney Nathan Lee said legal had reviewed the contract and had no objections, and the Board allowed the Chair or Vice Chair to sign.
Separately, the Board approved opioid-settlement-funded purchases for the Sheriff's Office: two secure narcotics evidence lockers ($4,877.12), a controlled-substance destruction incinerator system ($41,239), and a Ram 2500 Tradesman 4x4 transport vehicle ($66,555), for a total of $112,671.12 to be paid from the opioid fund. Gorton said county auditors (Mauldin & Jenkins) confirmed these are allowable opioid-related expenditures given the Sheriff's Office's prevention and remediation efforts; the opioid fund balance was stated as $190,223.29.
The Board also approved a SPLOST-funded purchase for the Coroner: a certified-refurbished Stryker Power Pro XT stretcher at $6,885 for use by the coroner's office.
Why it matters: The body-camera system and evidence-handling equipment affect chain-of-custody, evidence security and officer accountability; opioid-fund purchases are limited by fund-source rules and required auditor confirmation. The vehicle will be used in narcotics evidence transport and operations.
Next steps: Staff will finalize contracts, effect purchases from the specified funding sources and return to the Board for any necessary contract corrections or budget confirmations.
