Harrison police may soon be equipped with body cameras.
The township commissioners voted to join the Body Worn Camera Program, which is sponsored by the Allegheny County Chiefs of Police Association.
The township has applied for about $41,000 to cover the entire cost.
“It’s an important addition to the police department,” Commissioner Chuck Dizard said. “As best I know, grant funds will cover the cost of the body cameras for all officers.”
There are 13 officers in the township, including Chief Mike Klein.
Klein said he expects the cameras to be in use by mid- to late-February.
Harrison is the second Alle-Kiski Valley police department to apply for the grant in recent weeks.
The Fawn supervisors voted in October to join the program and applied for nearly $9,000. Cameras for the township’s two full-time officers are expected to be in use by the end of the year, Chief Tim Mayberry said.
Police across the country are more regularly wearing body-mounted video cameras that can give a clear picture of interactions between officers and the public. The cameras provide an audio and visual record of what took place.
Harrison also budgeted $31,500 next year to upgrade cameras mounted in its patrol cars.
Dizard said department is encouraged to have the innovative equipment.
“This is a necessary and valuable tool for police officers to document interaction with the public, and I welcome the opportunity for Chief Klein to secure grant funding to provide the body cameras for our officers,” he said.
