Reality TV show 'COPS' will start filming in Santa Rosa County next month

TV viewers will soon get a taste of what Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office deputies deal with on a day-to-day basis when the reality show "COPS" begins filming in the area.

Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said film crews are scheduled to begin riding in SRSO patrol cars in March and will stay for about eight weeks.

"I like the fact that our citizens can see what the deputies go through, and I want them to be able to see what we're out doing," Johnson said.

SRSO isn't new to reality TV. The department was the subject of another reality show, "Live PD," last year.

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TV crews rode with deputies for about two months before Johnson stopped the filming agreement because of proprietary film issues.

"Live PD" had a clause that said any footage they film belongs to them and can't be used anywhere else, including in court, according to Johnson. So when it came time for the State Attorney's Office to produce all evidence in the cases that "Live PD" had filmed, there was an issue with handing over that footage.

State Attorney Bill Eddins said there weren't any cases that had to be dropped because of the evidentiary issue, but it complicated the judicial process.

Johnson said "COPS" doesn't have that same requirement, and any footage they capture can be used in court.

"Based on my understanding of the new program, I have no concerns because it's my understanding their footage can be used in (evidence)," Eddins said.

A representative of the show's production company confirmed in an email Thursday that "COPS" will film in the area sometime this year in the show's 31st season, but there is no further information on when the program will air.

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Johnson said SRSO does not receive payment for its appearance on the show and there is no additional cost for the agency associated with filming.

He said he considers it a way to give the community insight into what deputies do on their shifts.

Johnson said film crews will be assigned to ride with certain deputies, but those deputies ultimately have the choice to decline if they don't want to be involved with the show.

Emma Kennedy can be reached at ekennedy@pnj.com or 850-435-8680.