By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            Sheriff Bobby McCallum has received Levy County Commission approval for his $17.1 million budget next year, which includes body cameras for road patrol deputies.

            The main part of his budget is $15.5 million, but commissioners allocated $1.6 million for things like computers, a jail scanner, body cameras, and replacement patrol cars including two hybrids.

            Sheriff’s deputies in Levy County have never worn body cameras and McCallum has resisted purchasing body cams, as they are sometimes known, in past years.

            “I have a true belief in all my deputies, men and women. They do a great job. I always said no, I won’t get body cams. I trust my deputies and people to do it right and we’ve done that. I’ve never been in favor of them but I think we’re going to be forced to get them and I think we’re going to be forced not only by Congress but by the liability side of it,” McCallum said.

            Alachua County, Marion County, Gilchrist County, and Chiefland already use body cameras, the sheriff said.

            “This is not an item I Iike to have, unfortunately, we’re at that point,” McCallum said.

            County Budget Director Jared Blanton, who works for the clerk’s office and manages the county commission budget, said the overall budget increase for the sheriff’s office is 2.9 percent.

            He said the $1.6 million in equipment funds came from congressional CARES Act money as part of COVID-19 relief. The money was moved into the county commission’s budget reserves. McCallum can draw on the money as he needs it.

            The approved budget takes effect on Oct. 1 and runs through Sept. 30 of 2022.

            McCallum said it’s not getting any easier being a sheriff’s deputy.

            “We’re facing a lot of things we have not really seen in the past as far as violence. The deputies are in more danger. We’re trying our best to get back-up on every call,” McCallum said.

            The number of jail inmates increased from 99 to 178 since the first of the year.

            The number of 911 calls increased by 2,578 between June 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021, and the overall call load increased by 4,050 for the same period, the sheriff said.   

            McCallum is adding four road deputies. He has 98 sworn officers total including those who deliver civil papers.

            The sheriff’s office has 90 vehicles on the road every day. McCallum said his vehicle needs “are terrible.”

            “Week before last we wrecked three law enforcement vehicles in one night in a matter of three or four hours,” he said.

            McCallum said an interceptor road patrol vehicle previously cost $42,000 to $43,000. A new police intercept today costs $57,000 to $59,000.

            He is adding a $100,000 jail scanner to the Levy County Detention Facility. He said inmates coming into the jail are finding creative ways to hide drugs and other contraband. The scanner will be similar to what’s used at the secure entrance to the courthouse. Correctional officers currently use an electronic wand to scan for contraband.

            “Almost every drug arrest you have to do your best to search. It’s getting harder and harder for us to do body searches, but that scanner will help with that,” he said.                

            McCallum reminded commissioners that qualified immunity for law enforcement officers could change in the near future. Qualified immunity gives law enforcement officers protection from being held personally liable for their actions when their acts “do not violate a clearly established statutory or constitutional right.” It is designed to protect all but the plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law.

            The sheriff said if Congress decides to take away qualified immunity for violations of constitutional rights, it could be costly to the county.

            “If we lose qualified immunity it could break this county. That could break our self-insurance risk management fund because there will be no limit on claims on any previous liability,” McCallum said. “We’ll be wide open because of federal claims. I hope you all and the Florida Association of counties realize how serious that issue is. We’re fighting it with everything we got on the congressional level. We’re in a battle with that.”

            McCallum said he hopes commissioners will join in the fight.

            Commissioner Mike Joyner, a career law enforcement officer, responded, “If it goes against the deputy and he’s wrong, we don’t need him.”

            The sheriff is planning to replace 10 of his oldest patrol cars in next year’s budget. Twenty replacements are in the budget.

            He said the fleet manager director arranged for the purchase of two hybrid patrol cars and they worked well for the department, so two additional hybrids will be purchased next year. The hybrids improve gas mileage.

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Board of County Commission Budget Meeting for FY 2021-2022; Posted July 3, 2021