As the sun set on 2018, the dawn of a new year brought with it renewed opportunities for law enforcement agencies to secure funding for much-needed resources. One of such resources, particularly indispensable in today's digitally-influenced law enforcement landscape, is the body worn camera (BWC).

As every law enforcement official knows, a BWC isn't merely a gadget. It＊s a critical tool for enhancing transparency, promoting accountability, and building trust within communities. 2019 was packed with various federal, state, and private grants that provided funding to help law enforcement agencies acquire BWCs. This post sheds light on some of these key grants and how agencies leveraged them to obtain essential equipment.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) Grant

2019 saw the BJA continue its role as a major federal funder of BWC programs. Under its Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program, the BJA awarded $18 million in grants. Eligible recipients included law enforcement agencies undertaking pilot programs, those seeking to implement BWC policies or expand existing BWC programs.

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant

The COPS grant offered another substantial source of federal funds. Through its Community Policing Development Microgrants program, the COPS Office awarded grants to law enforcement agencies embarking on innovation projects and practices in community policing, including BWCs.

State and Local Government Grants

Various states and local governments also awarded generous BWC grants in 2019 to help their local law enforcement agencies. For instance, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) awarded over $1 million in BWC grants to 38 local law enforcement agencies in July 2019.

Private Sector Grants

Several private-sector entities also contributed to the BWC grant landscape with their generous grants in 2019. For instance, the Motorola Solutions Foundation awarded grants to law enforcement agencies to purchase BWCs while promoting safety and responsible citizen-police interactions.

To capture these opportunities, it was crucial for law enforcement agencies to develop strategic grant-seeking strategies. This included building comprehensive grant management infrastructure, researching potential grant funding sources, and preparing high-quality grant proposals.

Substantial work, no doubt, but we recognize the efforts law enforcement agencies made to secure these grants. Because in a rapidly evolving technological and socio-cultural landscape, embracing digital tools such as BWCs is more than an operational necessity. It's an imperative for law enforcement to continue serving and protecting their communities effectively.

And so as we look back at 2019, we not only acknowledge the challenges it presented, but also remember the myriad opportunities it offered - opportunities law enforcement agencies seized to equip themselves better for the noble task of serving their communities, one body-worn camera grant at a time.

We plunge into the new year, knowing that, just like 2019, it too will be replete with its unique opportunities. And when they come, we trust law enforcement agencies will rise to the occasion, as they always have, ready to seize them with courage, strategy, and commitment. Here＊s to harnessing the power of body-worn camera technology and to the boundless possibilities it holds for law enforcement and the communities they serve.