Body-worn Camera Implementation Program

The Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation program (BWC PIP) provides funding to limited public agencies (i.e., states, units of local government, (including tribal government, recognized by the Secretary of the Interior), combinations of such states or units, or any department, agency, or instrumentality of the foregoing), that perform criminal justice functions; and national and regional public and private entities, including for-profit (commercial) and nonprofit organizations (including tribal nonprofit or for-profit organizations), faith-based and community organizations, and institutions of higher education (including tribal institutions of higher education) that support initiatives to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system. For-profit organizations must agree to forgo any profit or management fee.

The BWC PIP, funded under the 2016 Department of Justice Appropriations Act (P.L. 114-113), will support the implementation of body-worn camera programs in law enforcement agencies across the country. The intent of the program is help agencies develop, implement, and evaluate a BWC program as one tool in a law enforcement agency’s comprehensive problem solving approach to enhance officer interactions with the public and build community trust. Elements of such an approach include; Implementation of a BWC program developed in a planned and phased approach; Collaboration that leverages partnerships with cross-agency criminal justice stakeholders including prosecutors and advocacy organizations; Implementation of appropriate privacy policies; Implementation of operational procedures and tracking mechanisms; Training of officers, administrators, and associated agencies requiring access to digital multimedia evidence (DME); Adoption of practices and deployment of BWC programs appropriately addressing operational requirements.

The City of Winchester body-worn camera program is designed to create a comprehensive and inclusive platform that welcomes community involvement and input. The programss proposed partnership between the City of Winchester and County of Frederick will maximize our program's impact on the Northern Shenandoah Valley region. The partnership intends to procure 195 BWCs with accompanying software licensing and related accessories for the Winchester Police Department and Sheriff's Office and Frederick County Sheriff's Office law enforcement officers. These cameras will be accompanied by a comprehensive policy manual and training program that dictates protocol and procedure for the daily operation of the devices. In addition, the Winchester Commonwealth's Attorney and Frederick County Commonwealth's Attorney have both pledged their support to our program and understand the capabilities of our BWC initiative.

CA/NCF