Dane County Moves Forward With Body Cams For Sheriff’s Deputies

Body cameras are docked onto charging stations Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at the Wauwatosa police department. Angela Major/WPR Dane County sheriff’s deputies are one step closer to getting body cameras. County supervisors voted Wednesday night to approve a 2027 capital budget that includes $3 million for those devices. The budget — which includes $94 million in capital costs plus $861 million in operating expenses — is awaiting the signature of County Executive Melissa Agard. She’s previously come out in support of the body camera funding. Deputies could be wearing the new cameras as soon as summer 2027, following training and a bidding process to buy the devices, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said. Going forward, Sheriff Kalvin Barrett plans to hold community engagement sessions in villages and towns throughout the county. And county supervisors have asked him to spend 30 days taking public comment about a draft policy for camera use. “Body camera technology, if done right, ma