Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office turning cameras on deputies — again

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies will again be going in front of TV cameras with the launch next week of “Jefferson County Cam Watch.”

The program, which premieres July 13 at 6:30 p.m. on CBS 42, “provides a first-person view of the challenges deputies face as they work to prevent crime and arrest those who have harmed others,” according to a launch trailer posted on the office’s YouTube channel, where episodes will also stream.

The 30-second trailer includes handheld and dashcam footage of deputies taking suspects into custody and pursuing people on foot and in vehicles, reminiscent of “Live PD,” which aired on the A&E network from 2016-2020. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was featured in at least eight episodes in 2019, and Sheriff Mark Pettway made guest appearances in 2020, according to AL.com reports.

Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies “deserve recognition and acknowledgment, and we believe [Jefferson County Cam Watch] can be invaluable as we continue our mission to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community,” Pettway said in a statement to CBS 42.

“Live PD” was canceled in 2020 amid nationwide protests against law enforcement overreaches and the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

In November 2019, four people were hospitalized after a crash in Birmingham’s Five Points West while the deputies, accompanied by a “Live PD” crew, were pursuing a suspect with outstanding warrants.

“Jefferson County Cam Watch” is scheduled to run Saturdays through Aug. 24.