Somebody’s eyes are watching you daily, with 70-plus cameras in the Butler County Government Services Building. Most expect to be watched when entering the court wing on the second floor and walking through the metal detector, but cameras are pointed at all public areas on all floors, according to county officials.

Nestled in an undisclosed location is security personnel watching over banks of monitors. “It is to keep people safe,” said Chief Deputy Anthony Dwyer of the sheriff’s office. “We have a lot of foot traffic throughout the building from people in emotionally charged situations.” The original system, installed in the building in 1999, recently received an upgrade.

Dwyer said the clarity of the camera’s images has improved as well as the positioning of cameras and monitors. Elected office holders can also opt to install a camera system in non-public areas.

Auditor Roger Reynolds, Recorder Danny Crank, Coroner Dr. Lisa Mannix and Prosecutor Michael Gmoser and County Administrator Charles Young said no additional cameras are installed in their offices, but all said they have additional security measures.

In the treasurer’s office where plenty of money is received, seven cameras are operational, according to Treasurer Nancy Nix. “It does come in handy,” Nix said, noting an innocent mistake between an employee and a taxpayer using cash to pay taxes was recently discovered by reviewing security camera tapes. […]