Project Grant 15PBJA23GG02678BWCX

THE TOWN OF MORRISVILLE THROUGH THE MORRISVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS APPLYING FOR 147,077 IN FUNDING FROM THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCES 2023 COMPETITIVE GRANT: BODY-WORN CAMERA POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES UNDER CATEGORY 1: SITE-BASED AWARDS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES (INCLUDING SELF-INITIATED PARTNERSHIP APPLICATIONS). THIS FUNDING WOULD BE USED TO SUPPORT MORRISVILLES BWC PROJECT. THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT ARE TO MAINTAIN THE AGENCYS ABILITY TO SUPPORT THEIR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO IMPROVING TRANSPARENCY AND LEGITIMACY; STRENGTHEN ACCOUNTABILITY, BOTH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL; EXPEDITE RESOLUTIONS OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS; PROVIDE EVIDENCE FOR ARREST AND PROSECUTION; AND PROVIDE IMPROVEMENTS IN OFFICER TRAINING. THE MORRISVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN UTILIZING BWCS FROM WATCHGUARD, WHICH WERE BOUGHT OUT BY MOTOROLA AND WILL NO LONGER BE SOLD. THE NEW BWCS THAT WILL NEED TO BE PURCHASED ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE DEPARTMENTS CURRENT SOFTWARE AND STORAGE SOLUTIONS. TO ENSURE COMPATIBILITY ACROSS DEVICES, THE DEPARTMENT WILL NEED TO UPGRADE THE ENTIRE FLEET OF BWCS. THE TOWN OF MORRISVILLE IS LOCATED IN THE NORTH-CENTRAL SECTION OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA HALFWAY BETWEEN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS AND THE ATLANTIC OCEAN. THE TOWN OF MORRISVILLE IS LOCATED JUST SOUTH-WEST OF RDU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AND BORDERS DURHAM TO ITS NORTH AS WELL AS THE RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK TO ITS NORTH WEST, THE LARGEST RESEARCH PARK IN THE UNITED STATES. MORRISVILLES POPULATION HAS EXPLODED FROM APPROXIMATELY 5,000 TO OVER 32,000 RESIDENTS MAKING IT THE 31ST LARGEST CITY IN NORTH CAROLINA, GROWING AT A RATE OF 3.47 PERCENT ANNUALLY. OF THE POPULATION, 40.04 PERCENT ARE WHITE, 39.28 PERCENT ARE ASIAN, AND 12.43 PERCENT ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN.