COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch County Sheriff’s Office has implemented body-worn and in-car camera systems for both road patrol deputies and corrections officers.
The initiative follows the Branch County Board of Commissioners’ approval in January to purchase the equipment from Motorola Solutions under a five-year contract valued at over $500,000, with the first year funding already allocated in the 2025 budget.
Sheriff Fred Blankenship has indicated that the deployment of these cameras aims to enhance transparency and accountability within the Office of Sheriff. While the introduction of this technology may lead to an increase in Freedom of Information Act requests, it is expected to provide valuable documentation of law enforcement interactions, thereby supporting both public trust and officer safety.
Blankenship says, “The implementation of body-worn and in-car cameras by the Branch County Sheriff’s Office is expected to significantly aid in criminal prosecutions.”
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