APD receives $250k grant from DOJ to expand body camera program

Only 73 agencies received awards, ranging from $9,523 allocated to the 9,500-person Wilkinson County in Georgia, to the $1 million given to the LAPD and five other agencies.

Body cameras have been touted as a way to protect the public from police misconduct – and police from false accusations of abuse. Distribution of those cameras began this month at three LAPD stations. The law also required the faces of every person in a released body camera video, including police officers’, to be continuously blurred.

Seattle PD’s body-worn camera footage can be seen on its YouTube channel.

The federal Office of Justice Programs is also collecting data on body-worn camera use via surveys of law enforcement agencies.

“Whenever we can enlist information technology in what we do, we see it as a more efficient way to conduct business”, said Peggy Howard, Director of Community Outreach for the Sheriff’s Office. The new directive establishes foundational requirements while allowing individual police departments to tailor policies to local needs, nj.gov states. Andrew Smith, an LAPD spokesman, said about the federal funding. The chief said hasn’t heard much opposition about the officers themselves, but he notes that the officers will be part of the stakeholders having input in how the program will be implemented.

Police agencies across the country are increasingly coming under pressure to outfit officers with body cameras to record officer’s interactions with the public and to provide evidence for investigators. Lehigh University police started using the cameras last August.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch said camera programs will “build upon efforts to mend the fabric of trust, respect and common goal that all communities need to thrive”.

The Justice Department says the Miami, Milwaukee, and Phoenix police departments will partner with research institutions to determine how the cameras affect policing.

Sen. Kaine said, “The use of body cameras is an approach that can continue to build positive relationships between police and the communities they bravely serve”.