COLUMBUS, Ohio — By May 2022, all Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers will be outfitted body-worn cameras, Gov. Mike DeWine announced Tuesday. 

Troopers in the patrol’s central district are in the process of getting the body cameras this month.

In total, the Highway Patrol will purchase 1,550 new body cameras and 1,221 new in-car systems at a cost of $15 million over the next five years. In OSHP’s 2020 report, there were 1,576 sworn members of the patrol. 

The funds will come from OSHP’s operating budget and will be used for equipment, storage, installation, maintenance, training and other operational costs.

"The Patrol has been using in-car cameras for decades, but as technology continues to advance, body cameras have become an essential tool for policing," said DeWine.  "By investing in these cameras, we're not only giving our troopers the tools they need to better protect the public, but we're also giving the public another reason to have confidence in the professionalism of the Ohio State Highway Patrol."