The ector county independent school district (ecisd) police department proposes the body worn camera (BWC) policy and implementation project for $127,976 over a three year period, combined with…

The Ector County Independent School District (ECISD) Police Department was awarded a $127,976 Project Grant under the Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program (CFDA 16.835) by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance. The 3-year grant, awarded on October 1, 2024, will enable ECISD to implement a comprehensive body-worn camera (BWC) program for its 62 police officers and 2 dispatchers, including policy development, training, equipment procurement, and digital evidence management. The project will also involve partnerships with other local law enforcement agencies in Ector County, Texas to facilitate data sharing and co-response efforts. The grant funding, combined with $127,976 in matching funds from ECISD, will support the expansion and replacement of the department's existing BWC program to enhance transparency, accountability, and evidence collection in service of the diverse student population and broader community of Odessa and Ector County.

The ector county independent school district (ecisd) police department proposes the body worn camera (BWC) policy and implementation project for $127,976 over a three year period, combined with $127,976 in matching funds from the school district, to implement a policy revision and program expansion of its (BWC) policy & implementation strategy to provide bwcs for all 62 police officers (including replacement of antiquated equipment and expansion to new officers) and 2 reception dispatchers. The department proposes a comprehensive, holistic strategy that includes partnering with a technical and training assistance provider from the BJA, as well as networking with a community of practice, learning from peer agencies. Locally, the project will partner with all law enforcement agencies (leas) within ector county, texas to implement the BWC program, for CO-responding to calls and data sharing, including evidentiary information in criminal cases. These partners include: texas department of public safety; odessa police department; the ector county sheriffs office; ector county hospital district police; the university of texas of the permian basin (utpb) and odessa college police departments. These agencies often respond with ecisd police to calls around ecisd schools. This holistic model includes the revision and development of policy to address all aspects of a BWC program, an implementation toolkit, training and development of officers, issuing of body cameras (1 per person), cloud-based data storage and retrieval; and, data sharing and evaluation of the BWC program. The project will serve odessa and ector county, texas a community with approximately 165,000 people; and, one of the highest crime rates in the nation. In ecisd a district of 33,500 students, 73% of students are from low-income homes, while 86% come from ethnic minority and historically underserved groups. Many students live in high crime areas where they become trauma induced from chaotic environments around their homes. The project goals are to 1. Expand and replace the BWC program; 2. Develop policy and procedures for implementation of a holistic BWC program; and 3. Develop a comprehensive training and development program for using bwcs and ongoing officer development. The implementation of this program will be guided by a local advisory committee consisting of ecisd administration and police, officers from local leas; and delegates of community organizations representing historically underserved populations, such as ethnic minority groups, low income and homeless people. The project is expected to be exemplary, benefitting all people and cultures of ector county, texas.