Skip to content

Condition: Post with Page_List

Listen
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

No immediate plans for Erie County Sheriff's Office to have body cameras

Cover Image
WBEN Photo/Mike Baggerman

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard told WBEN that his office is still entertaining the idea of issuing body-worn cameras in the future.

"The topic remains open," Howard told WBEN at an event in Geneseo recently. "We have had some recent inquiries about the expense of the use of cameras going down as they become more in demand."


However, the sheriff also said currently, the sheriff's department can make better use of their resources by investing into more sheriff's deputies than equipping current officers with body cameras.

Body cameras for the Erie County Sheriff's Office received the spotlight after a video was made public of Deputy Kenneth Achtyl arresting Nicholas Belsito at a Buffalo Bills game in December 2017. In the body camera footage, Belsito was seen approaching Achtyl's vehicle and inquiring where his friend was being taken after he was arrested. Belsito then swore at the officer. Achtyl responded by arresting Belsito, who was bloodied during the ordeal.

Belsito is now suing the Erie County Sheriff's Office and the two arresting officers. Howard said a comment about the lawsuit is inappropriate.

Last year, the Erie County Public Safety Committee held a discussion on body cameras with the sheriff. Howard had reservations about using taxpayer dollars on the cameras and brought up the idea of having a reality show produce video that can be seen publicly.

Erie County Legislator April Baskin was concerned about the narrative that a show like "Live PD" could create. Howard responded then with the same narrative that body cameras could show. 

The Buffalo Police Department is scheduled to begin use of body-worn cameras this year. Its 780 officers are expected to be fully equipped by the end of the year at a cost of $2.168 million over five years. 

When asked when the sheriff's department will reconsider the use of body cameras, Howard did not give specifics but noted that the "subject is not closed". 

Attempts to reach Baskin, who is chair of the county's public safety committee, were unsuccessful.