Colorado Springs Police awarded grant for body camera program
The Colorado Springs Police Department has been awarded a grant to help fund a new body camera program that would equip a majority of its officers with cameras.
The Colorado Springs Police Department is one of 73 law enforcement agencies nationwide to receive a federal grant to pay for body cameras.
The grant for $600,000 was awarded to CSPD Monday. The city of Colorado Springs must match that amount in order for CSPD to receive the grant money. The department would be able to purchase 500 cameras and supply them to all officers who have contact with the public on the streets.
The grant requires a 50/50 in-kind or cash match and can be used to purchase equipment. It requires that applicants establish a strong implementation plan and a robust training policy before purchasing cameras.
Each agency awarded a grant is responsible for developing a plan for long-term storage, including the cost of storing data.
Cmdr. Pat Rigdon was in charge of researching the program. CSPD conducted a six-month pilot program in which it experimented with 12 cameras. Rigdon said he is excited to hear his agency received the money and is optimistic the city will approve the funding.
CSPD officers have come under fire recently for their actions caught on camera.Surveillance video from inside Memorial Hospital shows an 18-year-old woman in handcuffs shoved onto the ground on her face by an officer after she kicked him. She filed a civil lawsuit in July.
This week, a man filed a lawsuit against nine officers citing excessive force. According to documents in the case, the man tried to stop police from beating a black man downtown. He said he was tackled to the ground by officers and knocked unconscious. The city said the man did not ask police to stop, and instead, tried to interfere with the arrest.
Rigdon said body cameras could help prevent lawsuits down the road. He said they will help make the organization from transparent.
“Do we have the occasional incident that doesn’t go right? Absolutely. Would these have the opportunity to impact that? I hope so,” said Rigdon.
The grant requires a $600,000 match by the city of Colorado Springs, which will be included in the proposed 2016 General Fund budget to be presented to City Council in October.
