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Commonwealth’s Attorney: body‑worn cameras and discovery are adding untenable workload
Summary
Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Herd told the board that body‑worn camera policies create extensive discovery and ethical work that his office cannot absorb without additional staff or higher pay; the presentation prompted a heated exchange with supervisors.
Commonwealth's Attorney Mike Herd said the arrival of body‑worn cameras has produced more than "just looking at footage" — it requires expanded discovery, ethical screening and case preparation that has increased the office's workload well beyond staff capacities. Herd described working long stretches and said the office had to contend with expanded discovery rules that reach into general district court caseloads.
Herd told supervisors that the current starting salary minimum for a full‑time prosecutor was $80,725 and that competitive pay needed to approach roughly $87,000–$90,000 to recruit attorneys. His comments drew pushback from board members, who said they had asked for alternatives such as paralegals and part‑time counsel; the exchange grew contentious when at least one supervisor said Herd had threatened litigation rather than negotiation.
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