Central Bucks Police Get Federal Grant For Body-Worn Cameras

A collaboration of nine Bucks County law enforcement agencies, led by the Central Bucks Regional Police Department, has received federal funding for body worn cameras, according to a press release issued Wednesday.

The local departments that are part of the collaboration include: CBRPD, Chalfont, Plumstead, Buckingham, Warrington, Warminster, Lower Southampton, Northampton and the Bucks County Sheriff’s Department.

The local collaboration is one of 73 law enforcement agencies nationwide to receive U.S. Department of Justice funding for body-worn cameras. The collaboration was awarded $52,805 in federal funds for the body-worn cameras pilot program.

The collaboration’s contribution will be $54,595 netting a total of 120 body cameras to be implemented by 2016, the press release said.

“We are pleased to be awarded this grant as the lead agency on behalf of nine Bucks County law enforcement agencies. This is a collaborative endeavor to improve public safety and public trust between police and citizens. We want to deliver a positive experience to our communities,” said Central Bucks Regional Police Department Chief James Donnelly.

“This pilot program has the potential of affecting a population of over 626,000 crossing all socioeconomic boundaries as well as age, race, and ethnicity,” said Bucks County Sheriff Edward Donnelly.

The collaboration will meet regularly to establish a plan of implementation, training procedures and operational policy, the statement said.

“In addition to improving the high-quality public service expected of our officers, video footage will provide powerful demonstrative evidence for successful prosecution, officer training, reduction in citizen complaints, and prevent unfounded complaints,” said Chief Bill Wiegman of Lower Southampton Police.

(Photo: Central Bucks Regional Police Department Facebook)