FY 23 Budget Q&A #046; If possible, please provide the scope of how many cameras Congressman Beyer’s earmark (from May 2021 if still available) would provide Alexandria Police Department, and what our subsidy would be.
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Budget Question #046: If possible, please provide the scope of how many cameras Congressman Beyer’s earmark (from May 2021 if still available) would provide Alexandria Police Department, and what our subsidy would be (example would be How much is one camera?, or how much for 10 cameras?, or how much for 100 cameras?) in order to implement a pilot program with physical apparatus needed. Then, what funding is needed for the APD and OCA to provide personnel to view footage and then the needed cyber storage for that footage? (Vice Mayor Jackson)
Response: This is a new program to provide body worn cameras to the Alexandria Police Department in this proposed budget. The program would be implemented over the course of the next year and into the next budget cycle, allowing time for sufficient planning to ensure the successful implementation of the body worn cameras. The City anticipates having up to 311 cameras for the Police Department, along with the necessary technological and legal support to efficiently and effectively operate the program.
This program requires at least $2,200,000 to implement based on current estimates. Staff recommend that the funding come from the revenue estimation that is described in Budget Question #106. Of this total funding amount, $600,000 would be federal funding from Congressman Beyer’s earmark and the remainder would be General Fund dollars.
Preliminary staffing for the program is recommended to include two personnel in the Police Department, five staff in the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, one City Attorney, and one staff in Information Technology Services. These new positions would be recurring expenditures for the program. The funding also includes hardware, software and storage costs, 70 in-car cameras, and other information technology related costs for the program. These costs would be re-evaluated after implementation to ensure adequate program and technology support.
The City is also applying for the Bureau of Justice Assistance FY 22 Body-worn Camera Policy & Implementation Program to Support Law Enforcement Agencies Grant to offset some of the remaining general Fund cost. The grant was announced on March 24 and applications are due May 25. This grant may be used for upfront and recurring expenses and has a 3-year performance period.
