The Chattanooga Police Department is spending over $2 million to outfit all its officers with body cameras, but the sheriff's office is proceeding with more caution.

Chief Deputy Allen Branum said the sheriff's office did not want to make a large outlay for a camera system, "then have it go on the shelf in six months."

He said a major issue is that of privacy of citizens whose homes are entered by officers.

"The cameras might reveal their deep, dark secrets" when it goes public, he said.

Another issue, he noted, was whether the cameras should be left running all the time or whether the officer "pushes a button" during an incident.

He said the officer, in the heat of the moment, might not take the time to push the button, bringing criticism of a "coverup."



Sheriff Jim Hammond did note that more and more departments are turning to the cameras "especially since there have been so many complaints about officers."

He said with the camera evidence "it is cut and dried."

The sheriff said there should be a standard policy set for all law enforcement agencies relating to the use of body cameras.



On another topic, Sheriff Hammond asked legislators at a breakfast at the Mountain City Club for an increase in the in-service training supplement pay to certified law enforcement officers. It is currently at $600 and the request is for $1,800. He said Kentucky pays its officers $2,500 per year for training.

He said he is opposed to allowing the use of medical marijuana in Tennessee. He said he felt there were other resources in "the few cases" in which such medical treatment was sought. And he said it would be "letting the camel's nose into the tent" for legalizing marijuana.

Sheriff Hammond said there should be a higher fee paid by those on the Sex Offender Registry. He said his office has to keep up with 450 such offenders and the enforcement cost is not covered by the current fee. "It has not been raised in several years," he said.



The sheriff said there should be consideration of making all gun thefts felonies.

He said the charge is based on the dollar value of the stolen gun.

"You might have a Saturday Night Special that just costs a hundred dollars" and is classified as a misdemeanor," he said.

County officials would also like the Legislature to make it a felony for cutting an ankle bracelet used to keep tabs on a criminal offender.

Chris Jackson, who heads county corrections, said, "In Georgia, it already is a felony. That allows the police to go after the person quickly without having to find a judge who will sign a court order."

