Southampton Town Police Body Worn Camera Implementation Project

BJA FY 21 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program Project Abstract

 The Southampton Town Police Department (STPD) is submitting a funding application to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Fiscal Year 2021 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program. This program will equip ninety of STPD’s sworn police officers with body-worn cameras, and the departmental training essential to successfully deploying this program. Founded in 1954, STPD has a staff of 120 full time and part time employees and is located on the East End of Long Island. Since 1998, STPD has held the distinction of being an accredited law enforcement agency with New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). STPD has placed thoughtful consideration into adopting and implementing this Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program. The STPD program will consistently address issues that body-worn cameras raise (to include, but not be limited to: community and officer perceptions; trust; and accountability) and will continually employ policies that appropriately speak to those issues. STPD knows this program will support the departmental strategies of police performance, public and agency accountability, increased transparency, crime reduction, evidence documentation, officer training, preventing and resolving community complaints, and building strong, respectful relationships between law enforcement and the varied communities served. STPD is an agency that possesses a strong, documented capacity for deploying innovation. The Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program will join other STPD crime-fighting innovations. These include the deployment of Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle deployment which not only provides crime fighting capabilities, but also lifesaving capabilities.  The department is also part of the United States Secret Service Task Force and has the capability to download electronics to assist not only our agency but several county, state, and local agencies. The Southampton Town Police Department always seeks to increase innovation in its service delivery for the communities it serves. The mission of the men and women of The Southampton Town Police Department will always be able to  provide its citizens and visitors with exceptional law enforcement services, while working to prevent crime.