TITLE
Title
APPROVE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO APPLY FOR THE BJA FY24 BODY-WORN CAMERA POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES GRANT
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Sheriff Danny H. Rogers (Capt. Wes Mecham)
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BACKGROUND
Background
The Guilford County Sheriff's Office has utilized body-worn cameras (BWC) for its deputies since 2016. It implemented BWCs in the detention centers in Greensboro and High Point in 2020, and in 2023 the Sheriff's Office purchased more BWCs to enable every detention officer to have a personally assigned BWC, so they no longer had to share. The BWCs for deputies and the first BWCs for detention officers have never been replaced, since the initial purchase. These cameras are aging and need to be replaced. The current pricing for a single fully equipped BWC is shown below:
iPRO BWC 4000 - $848.50
Licensing/Support - $115
Pro AC Adapter - $115
Spare/Removeable Battery - $172.50
Mounting Clip - $57.23
Total: $1,308.23
There would need to be an approximate total of 260 BWCs purchased to replace cameras worn by deputies and 265 purchased to replace the BWCs worn by detention officers. There would also be other accessories needed at the two (2) detention centers, such as an eight (8) unit charging/uploading dock priced at $1,492.69 and an eight (8) battery charging dock priced at $562.36. The total number of these docks would be assessed at the time of purchase. All accessories related to BWCs would be eligible for reimbursement submission.
With this grant, BJA seeks to support the purchase and lease of body-worn cameras (BWCs) by publicly funded law enforcement and corrections agencies as part of comprehensive BWC programs guided by sound policy and broad stakeholder input. In addition, the solicitation seeks to support demonstration projects that advance digital evidence management, leveraging BWC digital footage to promote evidence-based and procedurally just practices in agencies with established BWC programs. This program furthers the US Department of Justice (USDOJ) mission to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights.
The grant award date is October 1, 2024 and continues for a period of thirty-six (36) months through September 30, 2027. The grant would reimburse the Sheriff's Office fifty percent (50%), which would require a fifty percent (50%) local match. It allows the purchase of Body Worn Cameras for both deputies and detention officers.
The Sheriff's Office would seek to replace all BWCs for deputies in July 2025, requiring matching funds in FY 2025-26. Based upon current market pricing for cameras and docking stations the number of BWCs estimated to be purchased would be 260. The current estimated total cost is approximately $325,000, with the Federal share being $162,500. These would replace BWCs that are eight (8) years old and past their life expectancy. This updates and modernizes the system.
In July 2026, based upon current market pricing for cameras and docking stations, the Sheriff's Office proposes purchasing 265 body worn cameras for Detention Center staff. The current estimated total cost would be approximately $359,000, with the Federal share being $179,500. This will replace all BWCs with Detention Center staff, while updating and modernizing the system.
If the Sheriff's Office is awarded the grant by the USDOJ, it could save the County approximately $342,000 in equipment purchasing costs and the costs could be spread out over three (3) fiscal years - FY 2025-26, FY 2026-27 and FY 2027-28. If all BWCs are replaced using this grant source and matching county funds, the last cameras to be replaced, which were the last to be purchased, would be 4-5 years old and would need replacing at that time.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
Funding for the County match is not currently included in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. Funding would need to be identified from within the Sheriff's Office budget at the time of grant award or included in the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget.
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve the Sheriff's Office request to apply for the BJA FY24 Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies Grant.
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