Monroe Police Apply For Grant To Purchase Body Cameras

MONROE, La. (AP) — Monroe Police Chief Quentin Holmes says he will apply for a competitive federal grant that would be used to purchase body cameras for all officers.

The News-Star reports approximately $2 million is available through the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, a component within the U.S. Department of Justice.

The police department originally planned to ask the city council permission to purchase the cameras for 160 officers with funds from the police department's budget.

The total cost for the cameras will be around $54,000.

The federal funding is part of a competitive grant to test and implement body cameras for police. It would be a 50 percent match if awarded to the department, cutting the potential cost to the city in half.

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Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com

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