PRESS RELEASE – The Graham County Sheriff’s Office understands that citizens have questions regarding additional public safety cameras being installed throughout the county. We welcome those questions and believe transparency, accountability, and public trust are important. We also recognize our responsibility to protect both public safety and the constitutional rights of the citizens we serve.

First, it is important to understand that camera technology is not new to Graham County. The Sheriff’s Office has operated public safety camera systems for more than a year, and at least one camera location has been actively used during that time. The additional camera equipment currently being deployed was purchased under a previous administration, and subscriptions for those systems have been maintained for more than a year. Some of that equipment had not yet been installed or placed into service. Recent activity has involved the installation and activation of previously purchased equipment in order to expand public safety coverage throughout the county.

Questions have also been raised regarding the cost of the camera system. Because these purchases were made under a previous administration, we are currently reviewing county financial records to verify the exact acquisition costs, funding sources, and ongoing subscription expenses. Once that information has been compiled, it will be made available as part of our commitment to transparency and accountability.

It is important to note that the current administration did not purchase this equipment. The camera systems and associated subscriptions had already been acquired and funded prior to taking office. After reviewing the equipment and its capabilities, the Sheriff’s Office determined it was in the best interest of Graham County taxpayers to place county-owned equipment into service rather than allow equipment that had already been purchased and paid for to remain unused.

As stewards of public funds, we have a responsibility to ensure taxpayer investments are utilized in a manner that provides value to the community. The deployment of this equipment allows the Sheriff’s Office to make use of resources that were already owned by the county while enhancing public safety, supporting criminal investigations, protecting public infrastructure, and assisting in emergency response efforts.

The current camera network consists of five camera pole locations being positioned at strategic locations throughout Graham County. Each location is being equipped with two Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras and a 360-degree situational awareness camera. While several locations are within or near municipal areas, the system is not limited to town boundaries. Some cameras are being positioned at major intersections and travel corridors throughout the county to assist with public safety efforts and criminal investigations.

At this time, no additional camera locations are planned. However, future expansion has not been ruled out and would be evaluated based on public safety needs, available funding, and operational considerations.

These systems are intended to assist law enforcement and public safety efforts by providing investigative leads, identifying suspect vehicles, locating stolen vehicles, assisting in missing person investigations, supporting emergency response operations, and aiding criminal investigations. Captured license plate data is not used for routine traffic enforcement, speeding, expired tags, inspection violations, or similar traffic infractions. The Sheriff’s Office has already seen investigative value from camera systems previously placed into service. Camera footage has provided investigative leads in felony investigations that resulted in criminal charges being filed. More recently, camera footage assisted investigators in identifying a construction vehicle involved in accidental damage to state-owned infrastructure. The ability to quickly identify the responsible company helped ensure repair costs were assigned appropriately rather than becoming a burden on taxpayers.

These cameras observe activity that is visible from public roadways and public areas and are not intended to intrude upon the private activities of citizens.

The Graham County Sheriff’s Office utilizes Verkada camera systems. Like most video surveillance systems, these cameras are capable of capturing images of individuals who are present in public areas visible to the cameras. However, the Sheriff’s Office does not utilize facial recognition technology or any facial recognition database for the purpose of automatically identifying individuals. The cameras are used to record and preserve video evidence and to support legitimate law enforcement and public safety functions. While the camera hardware is capable of recording audio, the audio recording function has been disabled and is not currently being utilized by the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office recognizes and respects the constitutional rights of all citizens. Public safety and individual liberty are not competing interests; both are essential. These systems are not intended to monitor lawful First Amendment activities, political activities, religious activities, or other constitutionally protected conduct. The purpose of these cameras is to support legitimate public safety and law enforcement functions while operating within the limits of the United States Constitution, North Carolina law, and Sheriff’s Office policy.

Access to the camera system is restricted to authorized Sheriff’s Office personnel. The Sheriff’s Office is implementing an administrative review process whereby designated administrators manage system access and requests for footage. Requests for footage associated with investigations will be documented through a formal request process. The purpose of this process is to create accountability, ensure a legitimate law enforcement purpose exists, and provide an auditable record of system use.

Unless footage is associated with a criminal investigation, evidentiary need, or preservation request, captured license plate data is retained for no more than 90 days before being automatically deleted unless preserved or otherwise retained as required by law. Footage related to investigations or preservation requests may be retained longer in accordance with applicable law, evidentiary requirements, and Sheriff’s Office policy.

While camera technology itself is not new to Graham County, the Sheriff’s Office has taken significant steps to strengthen the policies and procedures governing its use. The current administration has implemented additional accountability measures including restricted user access, documented requests for footage related to investigations, supervisory oversight, auditing procedures, retention guidelines, and preservation request requirements. These safeguards are designed to ensure the technology is used only for legitimate law enforcement and public safety purposes while protecting the privacy and constitutional rights of our citizens.

The Sheriff’s Office recognizes that the installation of additional cameras has generated questions within the community. Those questions are reasonable, and we believe providing information about the system, its purpose, and the safeguards governing its use is important to maintaining public confidence.

The Graham County Sheriff’s Office believes these systems are valuable public safety tools that help protect our community, assist victims, support investigations, safeguard taxpayer resources, and enhance public safety while operating within the limits of the law and under established policy safeguards. We remain committed to using this technology in a lawful, responsible, transparent, and constitutional manner.