Franklin Police Department to get bodycams, the last department in Milwaukee County to do so
The Franklin Police Department is getting bodycams with the help of a grant.
Franklin is the last police department in Milwaukee County to adopt them, according to city documents.
'We're the last to get this,' Ald. Michelle Eichmann said at Franklin's Jan. 21 Common Council meeting.
The city applied for and was awarded a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant to purchase 10 body-worn cameras, or BWCs, and implement a body-worn camera policy for the police department. The grant provides $20,000 ($2,000 per camera) and requires a 50% match of the cost from Franklin.
The grant has a three-year duration and the 50% match ($20,000) from the city can be split into three annual payments. Franklin has already allotted funds in its 2025 budget to go toward the bodycam program, said Ald. Jon Peccarelli.
The council unanimously accepted the grant at its Jan. 21 meeting. Franklin must submit its BWC policy to the Bureau of Justice Assistance within 120 days of acceptance or else the funds will be frozen.
Mayor John Nelson, who worked in law enforcement for 30 years, said this is a big deal.
'This saves careers. It saves lawsuits. It's a win, win, win,' he said at the meeting.
City documents note body-worn cameras have expected outcomes of 'increased prosecution rates, transparency with the public, improved officer safety through training related to BWC video, and reduced civil liability.'
Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @Redheadliner.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Franklin police to get bodycams, last department in county to get them
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