The culver city police department (CCPD) requests consideration for grant funds, not to exceed $200,000, to purchase 100 new bwcs for its sworn and non-sworn personnel

The Culver City Police Department (CCPD) received a $400,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation program (CFDA 16.835). The grant funding will enable CCPD to purchase 100 new body-worn cameras (BWCs) for its sworn and non-sworn personnel. The new BWCs will feature enhanced video quality, reduced motion blur, and improved low-light performance capabilities, which will improve the capture of critical evidence and promote greater police transparency and accountability within the Culver City community. This 3-year grant award, with a period of performance from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2026, will modernize CCPD's existing in-car and body-worn camera program to meet the evolving needs of the department and the 40,000 residents it serves.

Since 2017, CCPD has had an in-car and body-worn camera program. The bwcs currently used by CCPD personnel are outdated and lack advanced features such as high-resolution video, reduced motion blur, and improved low-light performance. These limitations can hinder the effectiveness of the cameras in capturing crucial evidence, which may also undermine public trust in our organization. Culver city encompasses approximately 5.2 square miles and is home to nearly 40,000 residents, with a daytime population that exceeds 300,000. The culver city police department consists of 161 employees, which includes 109 sworn officers and 52 professional staff, all of whom provide the highest level of service to the residents, businesses, and visitors. In addition, the department has 12 reserve police officers and 19 volunteers in patrol who dedicate their personal time to contribute to the success of the department. The use of technology by law enforcement organizations has increased exponentially over the past decade. IT is not only relied upon for efficiency; IT also enhances the safety of officers and community members. Technology plays a key role in creating and maintaining public trust through providing foundations for police transparency and accountability. The community, the city, and the police department see immense value in equipping culver city police personnel with this equipment that provides valuable evidence in police investigations and promotes a higher level of accountability for all parties involved in community-police interactions. With the assistance of the requested grant funds, the culver city police department will purchase new bwcs that have enhanced features, including much improved video resolution and the ability to adjust to different lighting conditions, reduce motion blur, all of which result in clearer evidence during playback. The successful acquisition of grant funds will enable our organization to improve the transparency and accountability of its officers, promote public trust, and enhance the overall quality of policing within our community.