The Craven County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved a five-year contract with tech provider Axon to equip the Sheriff’s Office with 50 new body-worn cameras and upgraded tasers. The agreement totals approximately $306,000 over its five-year term, officially bringing body camera technology to on-duty Craven County sheriff's deputies.
Enhancing Transparency and Accountability
County leaders emphasize that the deployment aims to protect both law enforcement personnel and local residents. "It keeps both sides honest," said Board of Commissioners Chairman Denny Bucher. "A citizen can’t claim a deputy was abusive or rude when we can turn on the camera and see the deputy was not abusive or rude, and vice versa."
Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes welcomed the decision, noting he has advocated for the implementation of body cameras for years. Hughes identified officer safety and evidence preservation as his primary motivations. "First and foremost is officer safety," Hughes said. "That’s the main reason I want my officers to be able to document things that happen out there, and if one of them is assaulted or, god forbid, shot, then it’s documented."
Overcoming Budgetary Hurdles
While the final budget passed with unanimous support, the body camera initiative initially faced resistance due to fiscal constraints. Vice-Chairman Jason Jones initially opposed the standalone contract.
According to Budget and Strategy Director Shane Digan, the initial hesitation was strictly financial, driven by the board's desire to limit county-wide spending growth. However, opposition cleared once Axon bundled the body cameras into a consolidated contract alongside the agency's existing taser program.
Training and Operational Use
Beyond documenting field encounters, Sheriff Hughes noted that the footage will serve as a critical tool for internal training and report accuracy. "Maybe it’s an interview, maybe it’s some videos or photos of a crime scene," Hughes explained. "They can go back in there, pull that up, look at it, and make adjustments to the report."
Axon, which already services nearby agencies like the Pitt and Onslow county sheriff's offices, will utilize a "train-the-trainer" model to implement the technology. Company representatives will instruct internal department trainers, who will then teach deputies how to operate the hardware and navigate the back-office management software.
Regional Context
While Craven County is just now introducing the technology, several neighboring eastern North Carolina agencies have utilized body cameras for years, including Beaufort, Duplin, and Pamlico counties.
In Pamlico County, where deputies have worn body cameras for a decade, Chief Deputy Scott Houston said the technology has become indispensable. "Our deputies are quite used to them and most of them don’t like working without them now," Houston said. "From my personal point of view, there is no reason to not have them in today’s world. They have definitely helped us in more situations than they have ever hurt us."
Houston added that having a video record allows command staff to resolve citizen complaints against personnel far more quickly than in the past.
Chairman Bucher framed the investment as part of a continuous effort to improve local governance and law enforcement practices. "You’re always striving to deliver transparency and to do things better than you have in the past," Bucher said. "That’s an ongoing process."