Additional Grant Funding Available for Local and County Law Enforcement Agencies to Purchase Body-worn and Dashboard Cameras

Concord, New Hampshire – Department of Safety Commissioner Robert L. Quinn and Attorney General John M. Formella announce the availability of approximately $1.2 Million in additional grant funding to local and county law enforcement agencies for the purchase and use of body-worn and dashboard cameras.

The grant funds will provide selected agencies with an opportunity to defray some of the costs associated with equipping officers and vehicles with cameras. Grantees may be reimbursed, up to $50,000, for the purchase of body-worn or dashboard cameras, software maintenance for the cameras, and maintenance and storage of data related to the cameras. Additional stipulations, including prohibited uses, apply.

The legislature enacted RSA 105-D:3 on July 1, 2021, to establish the Body-Worn and Dashboard Camera Fund and authorized the Department of Safety and the Department of Justice to jointly establish rules governing the funds. Those rules, N.H. Admin R. Saf-C 9700, became effective on Friday, January 28, 2022. The fund, the creation of which completed a key recommendation of the Governor's Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency (LEACT), encourages local law enforcement to implement such technology to improve officer safety and transparency in New Hampshire.

"This was a key component of our LEACT Commission's recommendations, and represents another step the state is taking to ensure and promote public safety and public accountability," said Governor Chris Sununu. "New Hampshire law enforcement remains the gold standard across the country, and it is because of their collaborative work with the LEACT Commission that we can move forward on these crucial initiatives."

"These additional grant funds will continue to assist our law enforcement agencies across the state in protecting all officers who put their lives at risk on a daily basis, and enhance trust with the public they serve," said Department of Safety Commissioner Robert L. Quinn.

"This grant will provide local law enforcement agencies with funds to access devices that enhance the safety of officers and the public," said Attorney General John M. Formella. "These tools promote public accountability and transparency, and are an important tool for prosecutors in seeking justice on behalf of the citizens of New Hampshire. I applaud the work of so many in making these devices a reality for law enforcement agencies across the state."

The deadline for law enforcement agencies to apply is Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 12:00 PM.

Grant applications can be found at https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/homeland/body-camera-grant/index.html

Law enforcement agencies with questions about the grant funds can contact Pam Urban-Morin with the Department of Safety Grants Management Bureau at 603-271-7663.