ALLEGAN, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Allegan County Sheriff’s department is getting a new tool in their arsenal.
Funded with appropriations from the Board of Commissioners, the Allegan County Sheriff’s department is in the process of deploying body cameras for it’s deputies.
Following a national trend, the department is using funds authorized by voters in 2020 when they approved the restoration of a county operations millage to the 1965 level.
The price tag for installing and using the body cameras expected to total more than $120,000, to include the cost of hiring a technician to catalogue the output of the cameras. Also factored in is a software program designed to assist in responding to freedom of information requests in various litigations.
The use of body cameras gained popularity nationally in the last decade as an increasing number of local governments were sued for alleged police misconduct.
The deployment of body cameras to Allegan County Sheriff’s deputies estimated to be complete by the end of August.
