Kingsport City FY24 JAG Project

The Kingsport Police Department has continued to invest in in-car video cameras for patrol cars. The primary funding source for the in-car camera systems has been the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program and the Tennessee Highway Safety Office (THSO) grant. The Kingsport Police Department participates in an aggressive traffic safety campaign through the THSO, primarily focusing on traffic violations, seatbelt violations, and DUI enforcement. Officers rely heavily on the in-car camera system to combat dangerous driving, including DUIs, for the successful enforcement and prosecution of offenders. The in-car camera infrastructure includes wireless downloads to a server that stores the video evidence for court. The additional in-car video cameras will bring the Kingsport Police Department closer to having a camera in every patrol officer's car. The Kingsport Police Department SWAT Team is a 12-person unit embedded within the department. The SWAT Team members are full-time officers who have part-time SWAT Team duties. The current gas masks carried by the members are approaching ten years old. They are not up to the current industry standards for safety. Upon receiving grant approval, the Kingsport Police Department will implement a phased approach to procure, train, and integrate new gas masks into daily operations. The department's SWAT Team leadership and training units will oversee the process to ensure timely and successful project execution.