ASHBY — Chief Derek Pepple is pleased to report that the Ashby Police Department has received a $15,000 grant to fund a body-worn camera program.
The $15,000 grant from the FY25 Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Program will fund the purchase of body-worn cameras, computer storage capacity, software, and more to enable a body-worn camera program to move forward at the Ashby Police Department.
The department must now select a vendor to purchase cameras and equipment from and put policies and procedures in place to guide the use of the cameras once they are deployed with officers.
“We are grateful to receive this grant, which will enable us to move forward with a body-worn camera program,” said Chief Pepple.
The grant received by Ashby Police was one of 10 awarded by the Healey-Driscoll Administration on Thursday, as a total of $728,892 in grants were distributed.
Since the Office of Grants and Research began the grant program in 2021, more than $13.9 million has been made available to support local police departments with their efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and police-community relations through the adoption and expansion of body-worn camera programs.
“This grant program has been instrumental in helping local police departments equip officers with body-worn cameras, a vital tool for enhancing investigations and building trust with the community. By continuing to offer opportunities for departments to secure funding, we are ensuring more officers have access to this essential technology and enhancing public safety across the state,” said Gov. Healey.
Wearing body cameras demonstrates departments’ commitment to transparency and accountability and helps improve policing practices so that officers may better serve their communities.
Research done by the Bureau of Justice Assistance suggests that implementing BWCs has led to reductions in crime, police-generated incidents, assaults against police officers, and complaints against police officers in certain communities.