Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Body Cameras topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Craven County approves five‑year body‑camera lease for deputies despite opposition from vice chairman
Summary
The Board approved a five‑year body‑camera lease — increasing the Axon contract cost by about $160,000 over five years — after staff warned that switching vendors later would be cost‑prohibitive. Vice‑Chairman Jason R. Jones opposed the motion.
Craven County commissioners approved a five‑year lease for deputy body cameras during a May 19 budget work session after staff outlined vendor options and cost implications. County Manager Jack B. Veit, III and Information Technology Director Steve Bennet presented staff analysis comparing Axon and Panasonic and recommended entering a five‑year lease with Axon.
Mr. Veit said the five‑year Axon procurement includes an approximately $160,000 increase over the five‑year term. IT Director Steve Bennet told the Board there are tradeoffs between the two vendors on hardware, data access and management; he warned that it would be cost prohibitive to exit an Axon contract if the Sheriff later sought to change providers.
The Board voted on a motion by Commissioner E. T. Mitchell to approve the five‑year lease; Commissioner Chadwick Howard seconded. The motion carried by a majority; Vice‑Chairman Jason R. Jones stated he opposed deputies wearing body cameras and did not support the contract request.
Why it matters: the contract commits the county to a vendor and increased expenditure over the contract term; staff said body cameras would be issued to deputies only and that the Sheriff’s office will provide an operational policy to govern use and data management. The County also noted buy‑out and replacement vehicle funding matters elsewhere in the Sheriff’s budget discussion.
Next steps: staff will finalize vendor contract paperwork and expect the Sheriff’s office to provide a body‑camera policy clarifying deployment, data storage and access. The Board recorded the motion and the opposition; no further procedural action was recorded in this session.
