TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County commissioners have approved funding for body cameras for the sheriff’s deputies.

Commissioners approved the measure by a 6-to-1 vote on Wednesday.

The vote came after Sheriff Chad Chronister appeared before the commission to ask for that funding.

Chronister said he’s been working on this initiative for the last 18 months - long before the recent George Floyd killing and calls for law enforcement reform.

Today, Chronister told the commission the cameras would cost anywhere between $9 to $14 million and deputies could be wearing them in as little as 90 days.

That’s because there is already a request for proposal had already been submitted so deputies could have the cameras quickly, rather than the usual two- to three-year wait.

“I think there’s an opportunity to make history,” Chronister said. “I think there’s an opportunity to take a giant leap forward in building trust and transparency by asking for approval to go to full-time with body worn cameras.”

 Chronister said he would have to hire additional staff to manage, store and redact some of the video captured by the cameras.

Commissioner Stacy White was the lone no vote on the measure, citing privacy concerns.