NATCHEZ — Sheriff Travis Patten said donations given to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office would be used to go toward body cameras for his deputies.

The Adams County Board of Supervisors had to officially amend the ACSO’s budget Tuesday to accept the $5,000 in donations members of the community have made.

Patten said he asked for the budget amendment after the fact because he didn’t realize at the time the money was given that it exceeded $1,000 projected for donations that was originally included in the budget.

The new budget is accommodating an additional $5,000, he said.

“Once those people gave the donations, we contacted the county administration so we can utilize the funds, and that is when I found out we have to do that,” he said.

While some of the donated funds have been used for decals and materials recognizing the service of some deputies, the bulk will be used for equipment, the body cameras in particular, Patten said.

“With law enforcement all over the nation being under attack, we need to have both sides of the story from a neutral party,” he said.

“And the citizens’ rights need to be protected just as much as the law enforcement.”

The system the ACSO is looking at costs $217,000, Patten said, and includes body cameras, car cameras and servers that download the video information.

“We are working on a grant with Southwest Planning and Development District. It requires a 50-percent match, and when we get to that magic number, that is when we are going to move forward,” he said.

“You don’t want the cheap version of the cameras that only last eight hours into a 12 hour shift.”

Patten said his office is happy to receive future donations from residents or other interested parties.

They should contact him or Jacqueline Posey at the ACSO, he said.

The ACSO can be reached at 601-442-2752.