Grant Funds Available for Local and County Law Enforcement Agencies to Purchase Body-Worn and Dashboard Cameras

Concord, NH – New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn announce the availability of grant funds to local and county law enforcement agencies for the purchase and use of body-worn and dashboard cameras. The creation of this fund completes a key recommendation of the Governor's Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency, by encouraging all law enforcement agencies to acquire and use these devices.

Agencies can 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. The fund encourages local law enforcement to implement such technology to improve officer safety and transparency in New Hampshire.

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.

"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."

"The safety of all law enforcement officers across the state is imperative," said New Hampshire Department of Safety Commissioner Robert Quinn. "These grant funds will help departments put important equipment in place to protect officers who put their lives at risk every day and enhance trust with the public they serve."

"These funds provide opportunities for law enforcement agencies to access devices that are helpful tools for prosecutors to fight crime and seek justice for the citizens of New Hampshire. There is no doubt that this program will make New Hampshire a safer place to live and visit," said New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella. "I applaud the work that went in to making this money available to police departments across the state."

The deadline for law enforcement to apply is noon on March 15, 2022.

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.