Dash/body cams for Collier County deputies could rise above estimated $7M

Reporter: Gina Tomlinson Writer: Jack Lowenstein
Published: Updated:
Credit: WINK News.

Collier County Sheriff’s Office plans to acquire hundreds of new body cams and dash cams over the course of the next few years for its deputies, but it could rise above the cost of the estimated $7 million in tax money previously reported.

“A lot of times, people say that the officer attacked me or hit me or something like that,” said Desi Calderin in Collier County.

Calderin believes the cameras will help reveal the truth, but it comes at a costly price. Storage alone will cost millions of dollars.

“Expensive stuff,” Calderin said.

The expected dash and body cameras will cost $7 million over a five-year period.

Some don’t feel Collier County’s crime rate is high enough to suit up 600 deputies with the technology.

Fort Myers officers already use similar cameras.

“The camera is on all the time, and it’s recording in a loop,” FMPD Lt. Jason Pate said.

Pate says FMPD determines how long they keep video based on the type of the call.

“If I have to mute it and talk to a supervisor or something, there’s rules on what I have to say,” Pate said.

CCSO is taking privacy concerns into consideration with the future addition of the added cameras, and it is still working on when deputies will start recording and when deputies should stop.

“Any agency that is not on board with body cams is falling behind on their duties to — A — protect their officers, protect their citizens,” Pate said.

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