WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today announced that the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded $139,500 in requested funds to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office through the Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Pilot Implementation Program. These funds will be used to purchase body-worn cameras for local law enforcement and explore the impact of their use.

“Body camera technology helps to protect police officers and build trust with the community,” Brown said. “These federal funds will allow the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office to use this innovative technology and continue to nurture a culture of transparency and accountability.”

Brown is working to ensure Ohio law enforcement officials have the resources they need to keep communities safe. In May 2015, Brown called for full funding of the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program which helps Ohio law enforcement agencies utilize body cameras and other innovative technologies. More than 600 JAG recipients nationwide have used federal funding for police camera technology. This technology has been found to reduce the use of force by officers by as much as 60 percent and reduce citizen complaints against police officers by as much as 88 percent.

That same month, Brown led a group of 17 senators in writing to Senate Appropriations Chairman Thad Cochran, to request full funding for the President’s proposal for a three-year, $263 million investment in body-worn cameras, expanded law enforcement training, and additional resources for police department reform. 

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