Police body camera catches rescue of suicidal man

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO) — South Carolina law enforcement are required to wear body cameras as of last week, when a new law took effect. The bill passing in June, after the fatal shooting of Walter Scott by an officer in North Charleston. Over Fourth of July weekend, a body camera in Fairfield County caught the rescue of a suicidal man. A tense and volatile situation, seen from the perspective of a deputy. Fairfield Co. Sheriff Will Montgomery says the department is not used to responding to suicide attempts, but he is incredibly proud of how his team responded. “I’ve always talked about going the extra mile, and on that day, they went the extra mile,” he says. When Sheriff Montgomery heard about what his deputies did, he went straight to the video to see what they’d done. “This is very important as far as training goes,” he says. “We’ll be able to go back and watch this video.” Body cameras offer a different perspective, when dash cameras leave big gaps. Fairfield County has 45 cameras; one for each of its deputies. It secured them through a federal grant six months ago. Sheriff Montgomery’s policy is that as soon as an officer makes contact on a call, the camera needs to turn on. The camera is programmed to add the 30 seconds before it’s turned on to the recording. The footage is downloaded once a week to a server that’s provided free through the grant. “On a day to day basis, I think it’s important for the public to see what law enforcement officers go through,” Sheriff Montgomery says. In a time where law enforcement is scrutinized, more than ever, these cameras place you at the scene of an incident, showing details like never before. The body camera law has been in effect since July 1, but the state is still working on specific rules.