OHIO — Gov. Mike DeWine announced Monday that 109 Ohio law enforcement agencies are receiving more than $4.7 million in grants for maintaining or launching body camera programs.

What You Need To Know

  • In total, the money distributed will allow agencies to purchase up to 1,700 new 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 Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program was a priority in the 2022-23 state budget, passed by the Ohio General Assembly last year

In total, the funding will help agencies purchase around 1,700 new body cameras, along with equipment, software and video storage. 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.

"Body cameras have quickly become a necessary tool for modern policing," said DeWine. "With these grants, more than four dozen law enforcement agencies that have never had body cameras before will be able to invest in this technology to help protect their officers and offer transparency to the public." 

The Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program was a priority in the 2022-23 state budget, passed by the Ohio General Assembly last year. The budget set aside $10 million to be used over the next biennium, with the remainder of the money to be dispursed in 2023. 

Body cameras are not mandated in Ohio but the topic has gained traction after recent events both in Ohio and across the nation, including the shooting deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Casey Goodson Jr. and many more by police officers. 

"This is just the start of many new ways we'll be helping law enforcement with state-of-the-art tools and innovative programs to fight crime and protect the public," said DeWine.

DeWine's office estimates nearly two-thirds of Ohio agencies have not given officers body cameras due to issues with funding and storage. 

 

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