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Westchester was awarded $61,209 to purchase 150 body cameras, which are expected to create the Westchester County Depart Public Safety’s body-worn camera program. The grant is part of a $1 million statewide initiative spearheaded by Attorney General Barbara Underwood.
In total, 13 law enforcement agencies across the state received funding to purchase nearly 1,000 body-worn cameras and more than 250 body-worn camera systems.
The money was made available through the Attorney General’s Capture an Account of a Material Situation (CAMS) program, which launched in July. The money is funded with money recovered from organized crime takedowns by Underwood’s office, local or state police.
According to Underwood, body-worn cameras create independent accounts of encounters between police and the public, increasing transparency and accountability and often providing critical evidence in investigations.
“Body-worn cameras help ensure increased accountability and transparency during law enforcement interactions,” she added. “Yet too often, local police departments don’t have the resources to buy them. By using funds recovered from our organized crime busts, we’re now able to equip local police departments across the state with body cameras — benefitting all New Yorkers as we work to ensure safe and fair communities.”
“Westchester County is pleased to be awarded this grant for body cameras for the Westchester County Police Department,” County Executive George Latimer said in a statement.
“A body camera is an extra layer of protection for everyone. They verify important facts that can serve as documentation of what happens during encounters. I want to thank the New York State Attorney General for choosing Westchester County for this important allocation of resources.”
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