SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The Jones County Sheriff’s Office and Gray Police Department have added another tool to keep the community safe with the installation of cameras that monitor entry roadways for the city and the county.
JCSO Capt. Travis Douglas recently talked about how the cameras can assist officers in both law enforcement and safety situations. He said the system can help find stolen vehicles and wanted persons but can also help with Amber Alerts, protective orders and locating individuals who are reported missing.
Douglas said the Sheriff’s Office started looking for roadside cameras last year in connection with issues of illegal dumping and littering at the request of the Board of Commissioners. He said the cost of the cameras they found, however, was not encouraging.
That changed with the discovery of Flock Safety cameras that are designed to focus on vehicle information. They are solar powered, which allows them to be placed practically anywhere. The cameras are also leased, which makes them more reasonable than previous options.
JCSO Chief Deputy Earl Humphries brought a recommendation to the Commissioners at their Jan. 3 meeting. He said the first cameras they looked at cost from $36,000 to $42,000 each and it was agreed the county could not afford them. He said Flock Safety started leasing the cameras, and surrounding counties were already using them.
The chief said the arrest of a suspected murderer wanted in another state that was the direct result of Flock cameras in Baldwin County brought the cameras to their attention.
Humphries proposed 20 cameras in Jones County that would cover most entry roads. He said River North already has cameras at its entrances, and he expects the private development would purchase more.
The chief said he had been working with County Administrator Jason Rizner on funding. Board Chairman Chris Weidner was the first to voice his support.
Humphries explained that every camera would be plugged into JCSO dispatch and every deputy on patrol. He said he had talked to other counties and was comfortable the cameras were a good product.
The cost of the cameras was $2,500 for the stationary cameras and $3,000 for the mobile cameras. The total for the proposal for the rental of the cameras for two years was $113,000.
The chief said the cameras are completely wireless and are solar powered.
Rizner said the cameras could be paid for with COVID funds.
The motion to purchase the cameras was made by Commissioner Daylon Martin, and it was unanimously approved.
Douglas said a majority of the cameras have been installed, and in addition to JCSO dispatch, the cameras are connected to NCIC and GCIC, the state and national crime databases. The captain said officers continue to learn the capabilities of the camera.
“If you are looking for someone, you can put in the data, and the tag reader will alert deputies and officers,” he said.
He said the county has 18 stationary cameras and four mobile cameras that can be moved where needed. The City of Gray has nine cameras that are placed at the entry points of the city.
Douglas said, in addition to Baldwin County, the cameras are being used in Monroe, Wilkinson and Putnam counties.
“We can share information with these counties, and investigators can go back and look at data,” he said.
The captain said all the main entry points to the county are covered.
“If you come into Jones County up to no good, your tag is going to be recorded,” he said.
He said Flock cameras do everything the tag readers that are used by patrol officers do and more. Deputies and officers can log into the system on their in-car computers, phones or desktop computers. The information is recorded and can be accessible to any agency using the system.
Douglas said the system is not ‘Big Brother’ and cannot be abused.
“We have to have a reason to search for a vehicle, and that reason is documented,” he added.
The cameras have only been in place for a few weeks, but the April 27 arrest of a Lizella man – who was charged with driving with a suspended or revoked license, theft by taking motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and theft by receiving stolen property felony – was the result a stolen vehicle alert from the Flock camera located in the median in front of Ingles Market.
