Taser & Body Camera Contract

cameras to not only protect law enforcement officers from false accusations … but also hold them accountable when they act irresponsibly. that’s why the el paso county sheriff’s office will soon get new body cameras and equipment. abc-7’s andrew j. polk continues our complete coverage live. andrew? rick and estela, the $1.7 million dollar pricetag isn’t something to sneeze at … but what led to a split vote today. the question is not if commissioners should spend the money, rather, when. “it sounds like we all agre that it needs to happen. i don’t understand why the risk of waiting to loose the benefits of all those things…” the sheriff’s office wants body cameras for all deputies and constables … brand new tasers … and cloud service from taser international to store the video. “body cameras clearly are a goo thing and will help our office in the relationship with the community we serve.” no-one on commissioner’s court says they’re not willing to make the purchase. “there’s so muc to discuss, that simply saying yes, let’s approve the expenditure today without identifying what we sacrifice, where the operations budget gets placed what other capital needs get delayed…” count judge veronica escobar would prefer to sign off on the contract during the budget process later this year. but not everyone agrees… commissioners andrew haggerty and carlos leon voted against the move … arguing the county is going to spend the money anyway, so why wait until july when deputies need the equipment now. “in la enforcement, i just don’t think it fits a lot of times into “we’ve got t start in july. you all have got to start in july.” with the vote today, county staff will work with taser international to see if the bid will be good through the budget process which starts in july. if not, escobar said she may consider movind up part of the budget discussion to address it. rick and estela? new tonight… abc- seven is learning more