MOORHEAD — A public hearing on the decision of whether to purchase body cameras for the Clay County Sheriff's Department has been set for Sept. 22.
Sheriff Mark Empting told county commissioners on Tuesday, Aug. 25, that the hearing is required by state law before his department could make the purchase.
Empting said he plans to purchase 22 cameras that would be used by his 15 patrol deputies as well as for himself, the street crimes unit, investigators and the civil unit, along with a spare.
The county would join Fargo police and the Cass County Sheriff's Department in the growing movement in the metropolitan area to buy the cameras. Moorhead and West Fargo don't have cameras, and West Fargo said in a statement earlier this month they have no plans to purchase cameras as they felt comfortable with their in-car units.
Dilworth has had the cameras for five years, but Empting said none of the other smaller towns in Clay County have the cameras.
His plan is to integrate the cameras with the department's in-vehicle units through Motorola Solutions for an estimated cost of about $45,000.
He said they would save money by integrating the system with the squad car units and added that when they purchased those a few years back they also purchased more than enough data storage for the camera footage as he said they one day thought they would be purchasing the body cameras.
At least two of the county commissioners, who would have to give final approval to the purchase, told The Forum they would support having deputies wear the cameras.
Commissioner Jenny Mongeau said she wanted to hear from the public at the hearing but said it would be a "useful tool."
"It seems to make sense," she said.
Commissioner Kevin Campbell also said he "fully supports" the body cameras. He said it was "unfortunate" it had to come this far, "but I think it's the better thing to do."
Empting said along with information about the cameras, he will also have a policy for their use in place for residents to see. Both will be available on the county's website in the coming days, he said.
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August 27, 2020
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Clay County to equip deputies with body cameras | INFORUM - INFORUM
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