Va. County Official Opposes Plan for Security Cameras at New Fire and Rescue Station
May 10--Spotsylvania County career firefighter Greg Benton considers the fire station home during his 24-hour shifts.
That's why he takes issue with a proposal to install security cameras at a new firehouse scheduled to open July 1 off State Route 3. It would be the only county-owned station with video surveillance.
"I don't really want to be recorded when I'm running out to the truck trying to pull up my pants and everything else," Benton said at a meeting last month. "'Cause that's my house when I'm in it." He noted that the camera footage is a public record under the state's Freedom of Information Act.
Benton will have a say in the matter as the newest member of the Board of Supervisors, which is scheduled to vote Tuesday on the camera proposal.
No other board members have expressed opposition to the plan, with Chairman Timothy McLaughlin calling it a "good idea." "I don't think this is a stretch to put security cameras in a public building that has narcotics and high-dollar value equipment," McLaughlin said.
The nonprofit Chancellor Volunteer Fire and Rescue--which will help man the station--would pay for the cameras to "protect the interests of county property and our property," Chancellor President Steve Dove told the supervisors. He did not say how much the cameras will cost.
In 2008, the volunteer organization installed cameras at a station it owns near Chancellor Elementary School amid "some concerns with improprieties with money and bingo," Spotsylvania Fire Chief Monty Willaford said. The station hosts bingo games.
Chancellor wants to buy cameras for the new county-owned station at 6204 Plank Road because it is replacing the nonprofit's old facility. Supervisors must approve a memorandum of understanding with the organization.
The video cameras would be at entrances and fire truck bays, not living quarters or bathrooms, Chancellor officials said. There are no plans to install cameras at other stations.
Stafford County has surveillance cameras at some stations and may install them at other facilities, Fire Chief Mark Lockhart said in an email. He declined to say what stations have the cameras, citing "operational and personnel security reasons."
Meanwhile, Benton said it is "very unnerving" that volunteers at just one fire station in Spotsylvania find the cameras necessary.
Spotsylvania fire and rescue stations have faced security issues in the past.
In 2012, the Sheriff's Office investigated a string of drug thefts from county ambulances but did not find any culprits.
The Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Management installed a $41,000 electronic locking system in all of its ambulances to deter additional thefts. The technology allows fire and rescue officials to know who has obtained drugs and when. Benton said there have been no issues since the county purchased the new locking system.
He said he's fine with installing cameras outside of the new station, but that "I just don't like anything inside the building." The county must keep all footage for at least 30 days, and Chancellor can't delete recordings without authorization from Spotsylvania officials, according to the proposed memo of understanding.
Benton also raised concerns that Chancellor is buying the cameras from Dillard Alarm Services, which is owned by the brother of Chancellor Administrative Chief Kevin Dillard.
"I know the family--very upstanding folks," he said. "But when you have folks looking in from outside and they see that ... it's on Chancellor."
Dillard said in an interview that he has abstained from all of Chancellor's votes on the camera system because "I didn't want it to be a conflict."
Jeff Branscome: 540.374-5402
jbranscome@freelancestar.com
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