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ELKINS -- Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon will ask the Randolph County Commission to consider approval Thursday of a quote for the purchase of body cameras for his department's deputies.
For more than a year, Elbon has looked into getting cams for his officers and at one point attempted to purchase the cameras through a grant. Because the price of the body cameras are around $100,000, attempts have been unsuccessful, Elbon said.
During that same time span, a local citizen, Richard Debias, has spoken about body cams during the public comment section of most Randolph County Commission meetings.
Debias has repeatedly said during the meetings that he and his family were treated unfairly during an arrest by the Randolph County Sheriff's Department back in 2020.
Recently Debias has taken to commenting on Elbon's Facebook page.
On Monday evening, Elbon posted a long response to the many posts from Debias.
"I only wish the sheriff's office would have had body cams the day Lt. Talkington came to your house in 2020 with a lawful warrant for you threatening a family court judge," Elbon wrote. "We would not be having this conversation at all because the truth would be known to all citizens of this and surrounding counties."
"I still have no idea why you come to the meetings and spew hate and accuse my deputies and myself of lying and filing false reports," Elbon posted. "You are the one who plead guilty/no contest to all your charges in magistrate court. Every charge!"
Elbon said in the post that Debias had multiple cameras in operation at his residence at the time of his arrest.
"You had cameras all over your property the day you were arrested," Elbon wrote. "I'm sure the events were captured on your home surveillance equipment on that day. If you were treated so badly I'm sure you would have brought that video footage forward to clear your name."
The sheriff also made it clear in the post that he was working hard to get the body cams for one reason and one reason only -- his deputies' protection.
"I will be asking the commissioners to consider the purchase of body cams in the upcoming meeting," Elbon said in the post. "This has nothing to do with you and your rants in the commission meetings. I want these cameras to protect my officers from false complaints and fabricated stories. I want these cameras so I can protect my officers from false and baseless attacks such as yours."