Sheriff’s department needs to replace body cams

The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department has received preliminary approval to replace cameras for deputies, squad vehicles and the sheriff’s office itself to the tune of over $460,000.

The county’s public safety committee gave its blessing June 2 after learning that the existing cameras were provided by a company that no longer exists, and as such, the department can no longer get replacements when current cameras are damaged.

Chief Deputy George Lenzner told the committee that the replacement project would not be able to wait indefinitely.

“This is a project that, next year, we’re going to have to do,” Lenzner said. “The body cams that we have, the company is defunct. We’re having a hard time getting replacements.”

The body cams are utilized as digital evidence with the Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney’s office, according to Lenzner, so having functional cameras are essential to making cases.

The current body cams desired by the sheriff’s department are already being utilized by Shawano Police Department and Bonduel Police Department, and the purchase would be extended to the Stockbridge-Munsee Police Department, Lenzner said.

“It’s something that, in this day and age, I can’t imagine us going without body cams,” Lenzner said. “We can’t get this from our own budget.”

Lenzner said he was hopeful that some of the $4 million the county has received from the American Rescue Act could go toward the large expense. He said the replacement would include deputy body cams, cameras in squad vehicles and even the cameras in the interrogation room.

“If that, for some reason, doesn’t meet the definition of what we can get with this money, we could go on the capital improvement plan, just to be safe,” Lenzner said, noting that the committee’s approval was for the capital improvement funds as a safeguard.

The $460,000 would cover the cameras for a five-year period, according to Lenzner. He noted that it could be done in one lump sum if the ARA mandates it, as the five-year period includes an annual subscription fee.

Supervisor Tom Kautza suggested that, if the ARA funding guidelines would not allow the body cams to be purchased, the county might consider getting a grant through the state. He noted that the grants have preliminary approval from the Wisconsin Assembly Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, as of May 27.

“Currently, the use of body cameras is not mandated in Wisconsin,” Kautza said. “However, if an agency does utilize this technology, the state does mandate the agency to have written policy regarding use and storage of cameras, limitations on officers that wear the cameras and record retention.”

Lenzner said it was unlikely the state would assist, noting the Outagamie County Sheriff’s Department is funding its camera replacement on its own, and the Brown County Sheriff’s Department is getting some assistance through the Green Bay Packers.

“We don’t have the spare body cams anymore,” Lenzner said. “When one’s down, we have the problem of officers going out there without body cams now. With all the lawsuits going on in the state, I don’t think it’s something we want to get into.”

Administrative Coordinator James Davel pointed out that while depending on money from the federal government carries its share of risk, he believes the ARA funds would be the best option to get the sheriff’s department the cameras it needs. Even if the project gets approval from the capital improvement projects committee, that doesn’t then prohibit the county using ARA money instead.

“It’s a big bill, but it’s something we really need,” Davel said. “As we get into this, the amount of video that’s asked for in the short time I’ve been coordinator, it’s amazing how many times video has come up, and attorneys are asking for the video. In the age of the lawsuit, and specifically what law enforcement goes through, I think it’s a very beneficial thing to our team here.”

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com