Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2021, $150,000)
The North Miami Beach Police Department (NMBPD) is requesting funding through the USDOJ BWC-PIP. The NMBPD is a full-service law enforcement agency with 109 sworn officers who provide 24-hour police service to 43,041 citizens. The department is submitting a request to fund 75 body worn cameras. The total request for this project is $300,000 The federal request is $150,000. The city will provide the required 50% match of $150,000.
City officials, many organizations and individuals within the community have advocated for and support this project. Recent data analysis, incorporating various weighted climate surveys and geographic variables within Miami-Dade County, support police officers using BWC.
BWCs will strengthen accountability and transparency within the police department and the community. Providing a video record of police activity has made police operations more transparent to the public and helps resolve questions following an encounter between officers and members of the public. BWCs are helping to prevent problems from initially arising by increasing officer professionalism, assisting agencies to evaluate and improve officer performance, and allowing agencies to identify and correct more significant structural issues within the police department. Police agencies with a BWC program experience fewer complaints and have improved encounters between officers and the public. The department will utilize established relationships with key stakeholders in the criminal justice system to ensure that BWC technology is leveraged to improve cases.
To implement the BWC Program, the department will first hold community meetings and meet with community stakeholders to introduce the plans of the NMBPD to implement a BWC project in the community, gauge the acceptance of the project to the community, and to gather information on the public’s expectations of the NMBPD. Once this is complete, the department, along with stakeholders will develop policies and procedures for the use of the cameras and digital media evidence. The cameras will be purchased, personnel will then receive training, the cameras will be deployed, and the department will assess progress.
The NMBPD is committed to successful implementation of the BWC PIP. The project is fully supported by the Miami Dade County State Attorney’s Office. The expected outcome of this project is to improve police services, community relations and prosecutions. The department has a clear understanding of what it will take to implement a successful BWC PIP and will ensure that the comprehensive approach to community input, policy development, training, implementation, and review described in this proposal is followed.