Undersheriff Bob Burnison and Sheriff John Dynneson test out the new HD Video Cameras installed in a patrol vehicle. These cameras were purchased through a partnership with District II Alcohol & Drug Program and the Richland County DUI Task Force.
With funding provided by the Partners for Success Grant, the Richland County Sheriff's Office has purchased 3 in-car High Definition video cameras from Watch Guard Video. Partnering with District II Alcohol and Drug Program and the Richland County DUI Task Force, the Sheriff's Office is using the cameras to assist in their efforts to prevent underage drinking and driving. The cameras have been installed in three of the Sheriff's patrol vehicles and are already being put to use.
The use of these cameras will help prosecute DUI offenders to the fullest extent; meaning that there will be solid video evidence of an impaired driver, and less of a chance for a DUI or an Aggravated DUI to be pled down to a lesser charge.
"Before the installation of the WatchGuard In-Car camera system the Richland County Sheriff's Office either had vehicles with outdated camera systems or no system in place. The video evidence that is produced by the in-car cameras helps support what law enforcement is testifying to in court and is almost expected as substantiating officer testimony by the jury in today's electronic age. The bottom line is that the In-Car Camera System will improve the professionalism and performance of law enforcement in Richland County," says Undersheriff Bob Burnison.
The Partners for Success Grant is funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA), and is designed to increase the ability of states to assist high-need communities with emerging substance abuse problems. Specifically, the Partnership for Success Grant was created with two top substance abuse prevention priorities, one of them being assistance to prevent underage drinking in persons age 12-20 and the other for prescription drug abuse/misuse prevention ages 12-25. Parents, if you have a teen driver under the age of 20 in your household, be sure to talk to them about the dangers of drinking and driving, and that they can and will be caught with the help of these video cameras.
To get involved in the DUI Task Force and the Report a Drunk Driver campaign, contact Mary Sundheim at the Richland County Health Department at (406) 433-2207. For any questions about the in-car video cameras, please contact Nicole Hackley at District II Alcohol & Drug Program (406) 433-4097.
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