Baldwin Co. courthouse cameras silent

BALDWIN CO., Ala. (WALA) - Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon is calling for surveillance camera modifications at the Baldwin County Courthouse and other county offices.

“I learned last week that certain cameras installed in and around the courthouse are recording audio,” Dixon said in a written statement.

Dixon consulted with the U.S. Attorney's Office after learning about the audio capabilities of the equipment. It was agreed the audio recordings are problematic.

Dixon met with County Officials on Monday and insisted steps be taken to eliminate the audio capability of the system and to prevent future audio recordings.

Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack released a statement Thursday afternoon about the cameras. He said the Baldwin County Courthouses' Security Committee, which he is a part of, placed the cameras with audio capabilities in the common, public areas of the courthouses (i.e., hallways and around entrances and exits).

"Each area where such a camera was installed had been determined to be a high risk area based on past occurrences. The cameras, with and without audio, are not routinely monitored. Recordings are made so that, in the event of an incident, they can be reviewed," Sheriff Mack explained.

Sheriff Mack said once notified about the District Attorney's concern, the Baldwin County Courthouses' Security Committeetook immediate action and all microphones and audio recording devices put in place by the committee were disabled.

"These devices will remain disabled for the foreseeable future. All recordings made in the past have been secured. Video monitoring has not changed, and remains in place throughout the courthouses," Sheriff Mack wrote.

He went on to say the issue is being reviewed by the United States Attorney's Office. Sheriff Mack has also met with agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and offered their complete cooperation with the inquiry.