OHIO — Gov. Mike DeWine visited Euclid Wednesday to talk about the money the police department is receiving to buy some much needed new equipment. 

The Euclid Police Department is among 109 law enforcement agencies across Ohio that received part of $4.7 million from the state to launch body-worn camera programs, which was announced last month. 

“This is a question of transparency," said DeWine. "We now have the technology to have body cameras and quite frankly, the public expects body cameras.”

Of the 109 agencies, 60 of them will use the funding to expand or upgrade existing body cameras, and 49 of them will use it to implement new body camera programs.

The initiative was a priority for DeWine in the state's biennium budget, which provided $10 million for the program when it was signed into law last year.

"It protects the police, and I think it protects the public to have body cameras,” he said.

Euclid received $120,275 to buy body cameras, computer equipment, software and other support technology.

For Euclid Police Chief Scott Meyer, it's something he can't put a price on.

“We’re trying to do two things simultaneously," Meyer explained. "We are always looking to build trust and relationships with our communities, but we’re also dealing with this violent crime. This kind of funding and support really means a lot not only to city leaders in the police department, but also to our residents, too.”​

According to a news release by DeWine's office, the grant program is administered by the Office of Criminal Justice Services, and agencies that applied but did receive funding are expected to receive later funding.