Wilmington Police Department Receives $630,000 Federal Grant To Support Police Body-Worn Camera Program

From the City of Wilmington:

October 15, 2020

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Police Chief Robert J. Tracy said today that the City’s planned police body-worn camera program can now proceed to implementation without further delay following notification of the receipt of a federal grant. The United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, announced today it has awarded the Wilmington Police Department a $630,000 federal grant for a body-worn camera program. Earlier this month, the Wilmington City Council approved an Administration request for $400,000 to support additional police officer staff positions to manage the new program.

“I extend my thanks and appreciation to City Council for its support and patience as we awaited word of the receipt of this much-needed grant,” said Mayor Purzycki. “Chief Tracy and his staff have done great work already to get this program operating as soon as possible. We said all along that we would have started this program with or without a federal grant because it’s that important. But it sure is good at a time of COVID-related dwindling revenue to receive this critical support from the Department of Justice and from our Congressional Delegation.”

Chief Tracy said if the contract with Axon, the national firm that will provide equipment and assist with implementation, is approved tonight by City Council, the WPD will move immediately forward to implement the program as quickly as possible. The Chief said next steps include ordering the cameras; securing the funding from the federal government; working with the City’s Human Resources Department in finalizing discussions with the FOP Lodge #1 police union regarding police camera policies; working with our federal partners through the technical assistance aspect of the grant to ensure the WPD adopts best practices in policy and administration; assigning and training personnel to manage and administer the program; training each officer on how to use the cameras; and ensuring that the technical framework for the program is established.

This press release was produced by the City of Wilmington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.