Buckingham Awarded $170K To Fund Purchase Of Police Body Cams

BUCKINGHAM TOWNSHIP, PA ? The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development has awarded Buckingham Township a $170,000 grant to fund the purchase of body-worn cameras.

In presenting the township with the grant, State Senator Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Tim Brennan commended the Buckingham Township Police Department for its hard work and service to the community.

"We are always thrilled when we have the opportunity to support our local municipalities and our local law enforcement officers," said State Sen. Steve Santarsiero. "Our community is safest when our local police have the resources they need to do their jobs."

Added State Rep. Tim Brennan, "I'm very glad to support Chief David Scirrotto's request for body cams and to secure $170,000 in funding for this very important tool that will help advance public safety here in Buckingham both for the police officers and for the residents."

Police Chief David Scirrotto expressed appreciation to the legislators for helping to secure the grant for the department, noting the high cost of equipping the department with technology.

"All of this technology is at a high cost, so getting this support from our representatives is incredibly important," the chief said.

State Sen. Steve Santarsiero, State Rep. Tim Brennan, Chief Scirrotto, members of the board of supervisors and the township's administration.

"This is a program that's very important to us and to our police department," the chief added. "The Axon system is the one that we're getting. It's going to interface with the in-car cameras, which we already have.

"I know our officers are excited with this new equipment," the chief continued. "The one thing we have learned over the years is that the cameras help us do our jobs better and, more importantly, almost 99 percent of the time it exonerates our officers when questions are raised about actions taken on the street."

The funding, said the chief, marks another "decisive step" toward transforming the Buckingham Township Police Department, through "innovation, accountability, and a stronger, more connected relationship with the community."