MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Sheriff’s Office will receive $80,000 in state funding to enhance its body-worn camera program.

The KCSO is among 131 law enforcement agencies sharing $4.4 million in the fifth round of the Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced awards on Monday.

Sheriff Daniel Weckesser said his office will use the grant to expand and sustain its existing BWC program.

The sheriff’s office deploys 34 cameras. Every deputy working the road has a body-worn camera, including supervisors and school resource officers.

Through grant funding, the county will continue deploying Axon BWCs to law enforcement personnel. It will also integrate advanced tools to enhance public safety, transparency, and operational efficiency.

Those tools include Axon Performance (for officer accountability and data analytics), Axon Redaction Assistant (for efficient video redaction), Auto Tagging (for automated evidence categorization), and secure cloud-based device storage.

“This initiative supports Knox County’s commitment to responsible policing, protects individual privacy, improves evidence management, and strengthens community trust,” Weckesser said.

“The expanded technology suite will reduce administrative workload, ensure compliance with legal standards, and provide timely access to accurate digital records.”

‘More transparent and accountable law enforcement’

Weckesser said the current cameras are new enough to not need replacement at this time.

However, the grant funds will support additional cameras as needed, as well as the performance and redaction software and the security and storage of digital evidence.

Weckesser said that sustaining the BWC program benefits Knox County residents through a more transparent and accountable law enforcement agency.

“This grant will enhance the quality and accessibility of public records, strengthen officer professionalism, and ensure that law enforcement actions are clearly documented and reviewable,” he said.

“This initiative reflects the values of our community and supports the mission of the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services to promote justice and safety across Ohio.”

About the grant program

DeWine created the Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program in 2021. The Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services (OCJS) administers the program.

In total, 370 law enforcement agencies have received funding through the initiative.

“Today, body-worn cameras on law enforcement officers are commonplace. They protect both the public and our first responders,” DeWine said in a release announcing the awards.

“My administration is proud to have helped hundreds of local agencies incorporate this valuable technology into their daily routines.”