Hernando County Sheriff's Office Starts Mandatory Body‑Worn Camera Training

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office has begun mandatory eight-hour training for deputies on a 294-unit Axon body-worn camera program, and deputies will start using the cameras on their next shift once training is complete. Training began in February 2026 and HCSO has said the first in-field use could occur within days of individual deputies finishing the course.

HCSO posted a statement outlining the rollout: "This month, the Hernando County Sheriff's Office is rolling out body-worn cameras agency-wide. Training has officially begun, and our employees are currently completing comprehensive instruction to ensure the proper use, operation, and management of this equipment. Once HCSO employees complete their 8-hour training, they will begin utilizing their new body-worn cameras on their next shift." Training sessions are mandatory and include instruction from the camera vendor, Axon, alongside internal trainers; agency photos show deputies practicing with the devices and instructors demonstrating when to record and how to follow policy.

The department named Tyler O’Donnell as body-worn camera coordinator to lead the effort. O’Donnell began his law enforcement career with HCSO in February 2006 as a patrol deputy, served in SWAT, Honor Guard, Marine Unit and Traffic Unit assignments, and went to the Tampa Police Department in 2012 where he worked in multiple specialized units. HCSO said, "Having someone with Tyler O’Donnell’s experience and professionalism leading this effort ensures that our program will meet the highest standards from day one. Tyler understands both the operational and accountability aspects of law enforcement, and his leadership will help us deliver a program that benefits our deputies and the community we serve."

The Board of County Commissioners approved moving forward with the program and authorized initial deployment funding through reserve general funds. County legislative documents show the formal grant application process is under File #: 16561, Version: 1, printed 2/10/2026, titled a Request to Apply for the DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance FY2025 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program Grant. The Legistar file lists an estimated first-year cost of $2,473,757, ongoing annual costs of $921,320, and a 10-year estimate of $10,765,637. The DOJ grant cited in the document would require a 50 percent non-federal match, caps funding at $2,000 per camera, and identifies a potential award of $588,000 over three years; the county recommendation is to authorize the chairman to sign the required certification and provide the match and any additional funding not covered by the grant.

HCSO plans to initially staff two analysts plus the coordinator to process video and handle public-records requests; Captain John McMurdo has evaluated BWC technology for the agency over the past four years. County planners used Charlotte County as a benchmark, noting that county receives up to 20 BWC public-records requests per day and employs five dedicated analysts. Statewide context shows 57 of Florida’s 67 county sheriff’s offices already operate body-worn camera programs.

The HCSO Facebook announcement generated 691 reactions, 202 comments and 39 shares, including a public comment that read, "Gotta retrain your department to not do illegal stuff cause they on camera now lol." Observers caution that whether the rollout strengthens public trust will depend on how footage is used, public access to recordings, and consistent enforcement of policy as the county moves from training into active deployment.