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CPD Body Worn Camera Expansion Project

Award Information

Award #
15PBJA-21-GG-04462-BWCX
Funding Category
Competitive Discretionary
Location
Awardee County
Kanawha
Congressional District
Status
Open
Funding First Awarded
2021
Total funding (to date)
$180,000

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2021, $180,000)

The City of Charleston Police Department is seeking $180,000 in grant funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 21 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to support the enhancement of the body worn camera project solution currently being utilized by the department.  The Charleston Police Department plans to purchase a total of 180 body worn cameras that will replace older, outdated technology, as well as provide the quantity needed to allow a camera to be assigned to every officer working in uniform that has contact with the community members they serve.  The main goal of this project is to increase the transparency capabilities of the department to continue to build trusting relationships with all citizens of our city.

Body worn cameras have been found to be a valuable tool for law enforcement in helping to create trusting relationships with the community members they serve.  The audio and video provided by the body worn cameras is an objective and visual record of interactions that can capture evidence in the event of a crime, police-citizen interaction or use-of-force incident.   These videos can also be used as a teaching tool to train the officers verbal communication and interview skills, body language cues, as well as officer safety.

Date Created: December 20, 2021