DEPARTMENT: SAPD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Anthony L. Trevi?o (Interim Police Chief)
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) is seeking City Council approval for an ordinance authorizing the submission of a grant application, and acceptance of funds upon award. The Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Pilot Implementation Program (PIP) FY 2015 Competitive Grant Solicitation comes from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and will not exceed $1,200,000.
The FY 2015 BWC PIP objective is to support the implementation of body-worn camera programs in law enforcement agencies. The intent of the program is to help develop, implement, and evaluate a BWC program as one tool in a law enforcement comprehensive problem-solving approach to enhance officer interactions with the public and build community trust. This grant is a two year program beginning on or about October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2017. There is a fifty percent in-kind or cash match for the grant. The total program cost is $2,400,000 of which the City will have to match 50% or $1,200,000 in in-kind or cash.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The SAPD initiated its Body Camera pilot program in March of 2014. During the pilot program the SAPD selected six different models of body worn cameras based on studies conducted by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Each vendor provided twenty-five units which were tested by officers from the Downtown Bike Unit and the Westside Patrol Substation. The pilot was designed to gather data on the technology's effects on citizen and police behavior/accountability, evidentiary value, operation feasibility, program costs, compatibility with the in-car video system, and other factors.
The pilot program focused on four main issues/priorities while testing the various systems:
1. Ease of usability for the officers...
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