Commissioners to stay out of bodycam struggle

Bartholomew County Commissioners said that they plan to largely stay out of the dispute about body cameras for the sheriff’s department.

Sheriff Matt Myers said last week that he believes adding body cameras for deputies are a non-negotiable safety item and that it should be a priority for the county. He has urged members of the community to contact the County Council and County Commissioners to argue for the cameras, if they agree with the sheriff.

Last week County Council members said that they weren’t the reason that the department doesn’t have body cameras, saying that the sheriff withdrew his request in 2016 and 2017 without a vote from the council.

At yesterdays’ Bartholomew County Commissioners meeting, Commissioners President Carl Lienhoop said that they plan to stay out of the spat.

Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said that the body’s only involvement in the issue was agreeing to provide some funding out of a telecommunications fund that the commissioners control.