×

Ohio sheriff installs cruiser cameras

WAVERLY, Ohio (AP) — A southern Ohio sheriff says a fatal shooting by a former deputy who was recently acquitted of murder prompted his office to install dashboard cameras in its vehicles.

Pike County was one of the last of Ohio’s 88 counties to install the cameras in cruisers. Bob Cornwell, executive director of the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association, said sheriff’s offices in eight counties still don’t use the technology, and that’s generally due to the high costs, The Columbus Dispatch reported.

Pike County Sheriff Charles Reader has three new cruisers with factory-installed cameras that activate with the lights. He plans to get three new vehicles with the same system in February. The office has bought 10 after-market cameras at $75 each. So far, he has spent nearly $13,000 on the technology.

Reader said the change was made “quietly” after former Deputy Sheriff Joel Jenkins was accused of fatally shooting 26-year-old Robert Rooker after a pursuit in March 2015. There was no video of the shooting. A jury on Jan. 17 found Jenkins not guilty of murder and reckless homicide.

“I saw the hostility and the anger of the Rooker family and friends. I saw the signs asking for a video. I couldn’t ignore it. I took action,” said Reader, who was not the sheriff at the time of Rooker’s death.

County Prosecutor Rob Junk said footage from the in-car cameras has been used as evidence in court at least twice this past year.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today