St. Francois County Approves Purchase of Body-Worn Cameras for Sheriff’s Department

St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - During Tuesday’s St. Francois County Commission meeting, commissioners approved the purchase of 40 body-worn cameras for the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff’s Department Captain Mike Ryan says the department has been working toward this purchase for quite some time.

Ryan says the cameras are being purchased through a state contract. The agreement is a five-year contract with a total cost of $181,914.40, which will be divided into five separate payments.

The first payment will be covered using grant money already received by the Sheriff’s Department. Ryan says he plans to continue applying for grant funding in an effort to offset future costs associated with the body-worn camera program.

County officials say the cameras will enhance transparency and accountability while also providing additional protection for deputies and the public.