The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)

Agencies get body camera money

More than 100 law enforcemen­t agencies in Ohio will share nearly $5 million in taxpayer funds to cover costs of body cameras. It’s the third time the state will hand out grants for body cameras since 2021, and $10 million is in the state budget for this year. Thus far, 200 law enforcemen­t agencies have received $10 million for the program. “Body-worn cameras are important for both the protection of our law enforcemen­t officers and members of the public,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “My administra­tion is proud to support our police department­s and sheriff’s offices with the cost of this equipment so that agencies big and small can outfit their peace officers with cameras.” DeWine expects 108 agencies to receive grants during this round of funding. Of those, 32 are expected to use the money for new body camera programs, while 76 are expected to upgrade or expand their programs. Ohio’s Office of Criminal Justice Services, which is administer­ing the grants, received $10.7 million worth of grant requests for this round of funding. All qualifying agencies that applied for grants to establish new body-worn camera programs received funding. The rest of the money went to existing programs to upgrade aging cameras, add storage capacity, or hire record-retention personnel. The largest grant of more than $271,000 went to the Perry Township Police Department, between Massillon and Canton in eastern Ohio. The Kettering Police Department near Dayton will receive more than $216,000, and the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department will receive more than $192,000.