Sheriff Brian Kirkland has checked another objective off his list since taking over the Swain County Sheriff’s Office in July.
Deputies are now required to wear body cameras when on duty. A total of 37 Axon body cameras were purchased for every deputy and jail employee. Four Axon dash cameras will be installed in patrol vehicles, and two additional body cameras were allocated to county animal services employees.
The cost of approximately $80,000 per year over five years was recently approved by the Swain County Board of Commissioners.
Axon provided training to deputies last week.
“It is going to help with transparency, protect our deputies and the public,” Kirkland said. “It is going to make our court cases stronger. We want our deputies to be on their best behaviors. I think it will cut down on complaints. Knowing this is always on and watching will be a huge benefit.”
Policy concerning body and dash cameras has been implemented by sheriff’s office administration.
“There are triggers that will automatically turn it on,” Kirkland said. “If someone pulls a taser out, it will automatically turn on. Blue lights will turn them on. They are really intelligent.”
The Axon body cameras come equipped with built-in language translators.
“Right there, on the spot, they push a button and talk into it,” Kirkland said. “It will translate back to us in English. They will talk into it, and it will translate back in whatever language was spoken. It already detects the language spoken.”
The cameras could also help make investigations easier.
“If investigators are working on a breaking-and-entering case or a murder and we need camera footage from someone, we can generate a QR code, and they can scan it from their house and the footage will be downloaded straight into the evidence portal,” Kirkland said.
Deputies started wearing body cameras Thursday, Jan. 8. Dash cameras are being installed today, Jan 15.