Why don't Portage County sheriff's deputies have body cameras?
Five months ago, Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski said getting body cameras for sheriff's deputies would be a priority in his office. Now, two shootings by sheriff's deputies -- one fatal -- has pointed to the need for body cameras, which still haven't been ordered. And although there is grant funding available through the state for the cameras, it's not clear when the sheriff's department can apply for the grants, or if the funding would even cover all the cameras the department needs. February requests  In February, Portage County Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski and Chief Deputy Ralph Spidaleri made their case for $2.9 million in additional funding for the sheriff's department. Among those requests were body cameras, which Spidaleri said were needed to protect officers from false accusations and lawsuits. Earlier that month, Gov. Mike DeWine said the state would provide $10 million in grants to buy body cameras for officers under a provision in his biennial budget proposal. At the time, DeWine said about two-thirds of law enforcement agencies statewide dont have body cameras, often because of the costs involved. The public has more confidence and trust in the criminal justice system when officers are wearing them, DeWine said when announcing the grants. Deputy-involved shootings  Last week, Matthew J. Morse, 36, was shot by sheriff's deputies outside his home in the Birchwood Manor mobile home park in Ravenna Townshipo. On July 4, deputies responded to the home in the 7000 block of Bennington Pike after receiving a call from a woman, who said she and her two children were going to a neighbor's home because of fears of physical harm from her husband. The sheriff's office said that Morse exited the home brandishing a handgun. After Morse was ordered multiple times to drop the weapon and he allegedly refused to comply, shots were fired and Morse was hit and died two hours later at the hospital. This is the second shooting since May involving the sheriffs office. A May 12 shooting in which a Portage County sheriff's deputy shot and wounded a Ravenna Township man at his home on Route 14 is still under investigation, Steve Irwin, an Ohio Attorney General spokesman, said last week. In the May 12 incident, the sheriffs office said deputies went to 43-year-old Kody Oscos home in the 5000 block of Route 14 to arrest him on outstanding warrants for failure to appear, intimidation of a crime victim, public indecency, criminal damaging and trespass in a habitation. The sheriffs office said Osco pulled a knife and after several commands to drop it, he refused. He then allegedly lunged at deputies causing one deputy to discharge his firearm, injuring Osco, sheriff's office reports say. Irwin also confirmed that BCI is investigating Sundays shooting. Pointing fingers  The Ravenna, Aurora and Streetsboro police departments all have body cameras. Many, including Ravenna, also have dash cameras for officers' vehicles. The sheriffs office does not have body cameras, though it has been attempting to get funding for them, and Spidalieri said there is no dash camera footage of the recent shooting. Portage County commissioners said they have encouraged the sheriff to apply for the grant funding made available in the state's budget, which was signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on July 1. County administrator Michelle Crombie said she recently sent information about the grants to the sheriff but she doesn't know if he applied for them. Commissioner Sabrina Christian-Bennett said she doesn't understand why the sheriff hasn't applied for the grants, saying the money has been available for months. Spidaleri, however, said he hasn't been able to apply because applications are not yet being accepted for the grants. And, he's not sure if the grants will pay for enough body cameras to outfit his department. It's unclear how much it would cost to outfit the entire sheriff's office with body cameras, but it can cost roughly $1,000 per officer for the device, storage and other costs associated. Commissioner Tony Badalamenti said if the grants don't include enough funding, commissioners should find a way to provide the money. "They really want to have them," he said of deputies. "It's an important tool for them to have." If you have a news tip, reporter Diane Smith can be reached at dsmith@recordpub.com