Sumner County Cameras on Patrol

September 28--New dash cams for the Sumner County Sheriff's Office are not they old school black and white surveillance cameras... these are high tech digital cameras.

The department bought six new cameras with Global Positioning System recording and marking abilities.

The cameras sit in the rearview mirror, so they don't take up any extra space in the cruiser. It records inside and outside the car, with no moving parts; everything is digital.

One feature the department really likes about the system, is its ability to do pre-event recording. This allows the camera to record video sixty seconds before the deputy activates the unit, so most events are still recorded.

The cameras are top of the line, and very popular among law enforcement agencies nationwide. Sumner County Sheriff Gerald Gilkey says having an extra pair of eyes on patrol will help protect his deputies and the public; they give them a chance to critique their officers' movements, and provides great documentation for court, and any type of officer complaints.

Right now, Sumner County has six cars equipped with the new digital cameras. The total cost was only $24,000, all paid for with grant money. Sumner County's goal is to eventually have the high tech cameras in all of their department cars.