TPD Receives Body Camera Grant

09/23/2015 – The Justice Department has awarded $599,200 to the Tulsa Police Department as part of the Body-Worn Camera Pilot Implementation Program, announced United States Attorney Danny C. Williams Sr. for the Northern District of Oklahoma.

“Today’s nearly $600,000 will allow the Tulsa Police Department to develop and enhance their body-worn camera program,” said
U.S. Attorney Williams. “The Justice Department is committed to supporting the safety of law enforcement officers who protect our communities.”

Nationwide, a total of more than $23.2 million was awarded to 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states to expand the use of body-worn cameras and explore their impact. The investment includes $19.3 million to purchase body-worn cameras, $2 million for training and technical assistance and $1.9 million to examine the impact of their use. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), are part of President Obama’s proposal to purchase 50,000 body-worn cameras for law enforcement agencies within three years.

The grants, which require a 50/50 in-kind or cash match, can be used to purchase equipment and require that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras. The long term costs associated with storing this information will be the financial responsibility of each local agency.

The Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Statistics is collecting data on body-worn camera usage through surveys of law enforcement agencies. It is also designing data collection forms for future surveys of prosecutors and public defenders to measure how body-worn camera footage is being used by the courts in criminal cases.

For additional information about the Body-Worn Camera Pilot Implementation Program, visit http://www.bja.gov/bwc/pdfs/BWCPIP-Award-Fact-Sheet.pdf.