Potter County Sheriff’s Getting Body Camera

Potter County Sheriff's will soon be equipped with body cameras.

They will be the first area law enforcement organization to initiate usage of the body worn cameras.  Officials with the department say they have already ordered the equipment.

A 2015 state grant was passed that sees local law enforcement agencies only responsible for paying 20 percent of the body cameras with the grant paying the rest.  The department will still be responsible for storing the video for several years for potential use by the court.

The Amarillo Police Department has been testing several styles of body camera and are gauging which model its officers prefer.  Storage of the video for Amarillo Police is also an issue.  It is estimated storage capacity for the department would have to increase by a factor of 10, at least.  According to officials with the department, there are other more pressing issues facing the department currently most notably a shortage or officers and patrol cars.