WilCo Commissioners End 'Live PD' Contract

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Williamson County Commissioners Court members unanimously voted to end its contract with Big Fish Entertainment LLC — the company that produces the cable show "Live PD" that features county sheriff's office police as part of their entertainment mix.

The termination will take effect in 30 days. It comes on the heels of a 3-2 decision in May that continued the contract as urged by Williamson County Sheriff Robert Chody, who categorizes the broadcast as a valuable recruiting tool. Chody is known to stage watch parties over the three seasons that the Williamson County Sheriff's Office has been part of the show's mix.

The discussion to cut ties with the production company came amid several controversies emanating from the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. A perception that cops featured on the show play up to the camera by acting more aggressively while handling suspects helped drive the decision to end the filming arrangement.

Police Commander Stephen Deaton didn't help matters when he is said to have inquired of his deputies if any of them had had sex with a female producer for the A&E program — an account later corroborated by officers in the room when Deaton made the remarks.

Deaton also has come under fire for having created a Facebook page replete with jokes about sexual assault while celebrating the mutilation of black NFL players who kneel during the national anthem as a silent protest against police brutality. Chody hit the "like" button to show his fondness for the post, showing a chainsaw-carrying elf doll and a bloody pair of disembodied legs nearby.

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In addition to those controversies, there also were concerns related to the proprietary status given to footage collected during filming by the production company — records that could potentially yield be police evidence — that is routinely destroyed after a finite amount of time after location shooting.

After the vote to end the contract with Big Fish Entertainment was taken — a move met with spontaneous applause from the audience — County Judge Bill Gravell revisited the issue with further instructions to county counsel on ending the relationship.

"Please let Big Fish Entertainment understand that they no longer have permission to film our offices, our facilities, our vehicles or anything associated with Williamson County or the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. Counsel, please let Big Fish Entertainment and A&E understand that any photographs, records, or other filming that has the names, the likeness, the voices and the images and the trademark of Williamson County will not be permitted. Please help them to understand that any access to any of our Williamson County facilities beyond that 30-day period will be non-existent. Please explain to them that any effort to try to circumvent the will of this court will not be met favorably in a court of law."

From earlier:

WILLIAMSON COUNTY, TX — Williamson County Commissioners Court members on Tuesday will consider terminating its contract with Big Fish Entertainment LLC, the company that produces the cable show "Live PD" featuring the county's sheriff's deputies.

The discussion whether to end the agreement to film local cops as they go about their work comes at a time when several controversies are swirling around the Williamson County Sheriff's Office. As outlined in past stories by Patch, several witnesses independently corroborated hearing Commander Stephen Deaton inquire of his deputies if any of them had engaged in sexual relations with a female producer of the show.

Deaton also is connected to creation of a Facebook page featuring rape jokes and calls for violence against black NFL players protesting by kneeling during the national anthem. Sheriff Robert Chody expressed his amusement at the post by clicking on the "like" button in addition to County Judge Bill Gravell.

Related stories:

WilCo Sheriff Chody Finds Himself Under Unwelcome Spotlight

WilCo Sheriff Addresses Furor Over Subordinate's Facebook Page

Concerns also have arisen that the local deputies featured on the show may play up to the cameras by being overly aggressive with featured suspects. As the name of the show suggests, much of the action broadcast is in real time — yielding a limited time to provide compelling television. Patch spoke one viewer of the show who commented on seeing a man with his hands on his head as directed by police not move quickly enough toward an officer, prompting the officer to tackle him. It's unclear if the man even understood English.

Watch WilCo Commissioners Court Live Stream Here

In another episode — ironically airing shortly after the contract with Big Fish barely gained approval at Chody's urging — shows a man tackled to the ground by four burly sheriff's deputies, with a fifth one running to the scene to get some punches in to the man's head. Unconscious after conveying his inability to breathe as five deputies restrain him against the pavement, a pool of blood forms under the man's head.

The arrested man's attorney said his client suffered serious injuries for the benefit of providing dramatic footage for "Live PD." In an interview with Fox 7, Chody dismissed accusations his deputies were playing to the "Live PD" camera for the sake of securing the most dramatic footage: "Liability is liability no matter what, no matter whether there's a camera present or not," he said.

Here's that particular take-down the show's producers titled "Wilco Deputies Fight Off Druggie" that aired on June 19.

The discussion on whether to terminate the "Live PD" contract is on the county commissioners' agenda as the 38th item to be considered. Residents unable to attend can watch a live stream by clicking here. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m.

Chody has called the show a strong recruitment tool for his force, and is known to stage watching parties when the WilCo force is featured on the A&E show.