State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management

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State Funded Body Camera Program | Application Package | Pending and Approved Applications

Body-Worn Recording Equipment (BWRE) Reimbursement Grant Program For Local and University Law Enforcement Agencies

Updated - June 25, 2020

The Office of Policy and Management, as directed by Public Acts 15-4, 17-225, 18-107, 19-11 & 20-1, is offering grants-in-aid to municipal law enforcement agencies and state university police forces (special police forces established pursuant to Sec. 10a-156b) for body-worn recording equipment and digital data storage devices or services.


Public Act No. 17-225, An Act Concerning Camera And Recording Devices And Equipment Used By Police, adds the following clarifications and eligible components for reimbursement:

  1. ADDS eligibility for electronic defense weapon recording equipment (e.g., "taser cams”) This is NOT an electronic defense weapon replacement program.
  2. ADDS eligibility for any municipality making a first-time purchase of one or more dashboard cameras with a remote audio recorder.  This is NOT a dashboard camera replacement program.
  3. ADDS eligibility for body worn recording equipment for constables, police officers or other persons who perform criminal law enforcement duties under the supervision of a resident state trooper serving such municipality, and digital data storage devices or services. (Resident State Troopers will be equipped with body worn recording equipment by DESPP - and NOT through this local reimbursement grant program)
  4. EXTENDS the timeline for 100% reimbursement eligibility to June 30, 2018.
  5. EXTENDS the timeline for 50% reimbursement eligibility to June 30, 2019.
  6. CLARIFIES the implementation of the statutory term "sufficient quantity" (it now includes the additional phrase – “as determined by the chief of police")
  7. ALLOWS for police departments to implement their own body worn recording equipment policy - with the caveat that it will be based upon the guidelines maintained by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Police Officer Standards and Training Council.
Public Act No. 18-107:
  1. ADDS in the 100% reimbursement for data storage services for FY18 that was erroneously left out in PA 17-225
  2. EXTENDS the reimbursement for dashboard cameras not just for first time purchases, but for replacing those purchased prior to December 31,2010

Public Act 19-11:

  1. EXTENDS the 100% reimbursement to August 31, 2018 (instead of the previous date of June 30, 2018)

Public Act 20-1:

  1. EXTENDS the 50% reimbursement to June 30, 2021
  2. REALLOCATES $3 million of the remaining approximately $3.5 million to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, therefore leaving $500k for the municipalities.

 

Links to all the applicable Public Acts can be found here: https://portal.ct.gov/OPM/CJ-About/CJPPD-Grants-Portal/BWRE_Grant_Template/Related-Resources

 

Application Package

Reimbursement Grant

This is a reimbursement grant. This is NOT an advance payment grant.

Municipalities taking advantage of this program must procure the necessary body worn cameras and storage devices and/or contracts with locally budgeted funds and submit an application for reimbursement.  The reimbursement request must include, among other things, invoices and cancelled checks for those equipment purchases.

Federal Funds and Private Contributions

Any body worn cameras and storage devices and/or contracts procured with Federal Asset Forfeiture Funds, Federal grant funds, private contribution or private foundation funds are NOT eligible for reimbursement under this program.

Time Period Covered and Reimbursement Rate

Reimbursement grants are available within the following parameters:

  1. Time Period #1: January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2016; 100% reimbursement for equipment; 100% of 1 Year (only) of service contract (data storage).
  2. Time Period #2: July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017; 100% reimbursement for equipment; 100% of 1 Year (only) of service contract (data storage).
  3. Time Period #3: July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018; 100% reimbursement for equipment; 100% of 1 Year (only) of service contract (data storage).
  4. Time Period #4: July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019; 50% reimbursement for equipment; 50% of 1 Year (only) of service contract (data storage).
  5. Time Period #5: July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020; 50% reimbursement for equipment; 50% of 1 Year (only) of service contract (data storage).
  6. Time Period #6: July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021; 50% reimbursement for equipment; 50% of 1 Year (only) of service contract (data storage).

 

 

Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council General Notice 15-05

Acceptance of these funds will require that:

  1. The procurement and distribution of any and all Body-Worn Recording Equipment contained in this application is in conformance with all requirements identified in Public Acts 15-4, 17-225, 18-107, 19-11 & 20-1.
  2. All appropriate officials of the Municipality or law enforcement agency must review the "Policy - Use of Body Worn Cameras" promulgated by the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council General Notice 15-05 and agree that their department’s body worn recording equipment policy will be based upon the guidelines maintained by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Police Officer Standards and Training Council.

 

Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council

Documents

Download

General Notice 15-05: "Policy - Use of Body Worn Cameras"

General Notice 15-05

Minimum Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications

For More Information

For additional questions and information about this grant program, please contact:

Nichole Howe
Associate Accountant
Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Division
Office of Policy and Management

860-418-6443
nichole.howe@ct.gov