Sheriff's office deputies equipped with body cameras

Union County Sheriff's Office deputies are now equipped with body worn cameras.

Union County Sheriff Scott Harvel said that deputies who are assigned to the department's patrol division have been issued and equipped with the body worn cameras since July 1.

Harvel said in a news release that sheriff's deputies will be required to wear the recording devices at all times while on duty.

The cameras will be activated during any interaction with the public.

"The decision to equip sheriff's deputies with body worn cameras is a measure to promote professionalism, accountability and transparency during interactions with the public," the sheriff stated.

"Body worn cameras will record an unbiased account of the citizen contact and accurately document their encounter with law enforcement."

The sheriff said the cameras "will be an aid in the collection of potential evidence and a great tool to evaluate the performance of sheriff's deputies during public interactions."

"Body worn cameras may also have a profound effect that could potentially deescalate a hostile encounter with a citizen when the citizen is aware that they are being recorded."

The sheriff's office acquired a total of 11 of the cameras. Eight are in use at this time.

The cameras cost a total of about $4,500. The cameras were purchased with a matching grant received from the Illinois Counties Risk Management Trust, which is Union County's insurance carrier, and funds available through the sheriff's anti-crime fund.

Sheriff issues report

The Union County Sheriff's Office made more than

100 arrests during June. The arrest totals were shared

in a monthly activity report for June which was issued

by Union County Sheriff Scott Harvel.

The report included the following statistics:

Felony arrests, nine. Misdemeanor arrests, 19.

Traffic arrests, 74. Warrant arrests, five. Total arrests,

107.

Cases opened, 43. Drug investigations, nine. Crash

reports, 22. 911 calls received, 1,976. Miles patrolled,

12,822.

Cases for June

June 6, controlled substance, prescription pills,

Jonesboro. June 7, methamphetamine lab, Jonesboro.

June 13, controlled substance investigation, Anna.

June 21, methamphetamine lab dump site, Lick Creek.

June 21, heroin/methamphetamine investigation,

Anna. June 22, methamphetamine investigation,

Jonesboro.

June 26, cannabis investigation, Anna. June 27,

methamphetamine investigation, Dongola. June 27,

methamphetamine investigation, Jonesboro.

Union County 911 Calls Summary

Landline, 262. VOIP, 26. Wireless, 1,688. Total,

1,976.