Gov. Mike DeWine announces $4.4 million in funding for body-worn cameras for local law enforcement

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine announced $4.4 million in funding for local law enforcement across Ohio to buy body-worn cameras.

“Today, body-worn cameras on law enforcement officers are commonplace; they protect both the public and our first responders,” DeWine said in a Monday release. “My administration is proud to have helped hundreds of local agencies incorporate this valuable technology into their daily routines.”

Law enforcement agencies that will establish new body-worn camera programs with the funding include the Bluffton Police Department, Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, Darke County Sheriff’s Office, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Police, and Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sebring Police Department, Lewisburg Police Department, Preble County Sheriff’s Office, Mason Police Department, and Stryker Police Department will also establish programs with the funding.

The funding is provided by the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s Office of Criminal Justice Services as part of the Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program.

This is the fifth time the program has dispersed funding and will provide funding for 131 law enforcement agencies to purchase equipment.

This includes the 10 agencies that will use the money to establish new body-worn camera programs and 121 agencies that will expand or upgrade equipment for already existing programs.

OCJS received grant requests for a total of $17.2 million in funding for this round of disbursements.

Qualifying agencies establishing new body-worn camera programs received top priority, but the funds being distributed by the OCJS will also go towards upgrading existing cameras, adding storage capacity, and hiring record retention personnel for the already existing programs.

The Ohio Body-Worn Camera Grant Program was created by DeWine in 2021 to assist with the costs of buying cameras, according to a September 2021 press release.

“Body cameras are beneficial for peace officers and the public because they act as impartial eyes on events as they transpire, but most law enforcement agencies in Ohio don’t have them because they can’t afford them,” DeWine said. “One of my top priorities has always been ensuring that our law enforcement officers have the tools they need to best serve the public, and this new grant program will help eliminate the cost barriers associated with body-worn cameras and will contribute to a safer Ohio.”

The program has since provided funding for 370 law enforcement agencies to purchase cameras.