WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Police Department is looking to expand its body camera fleet after city council approved a grant application earlier this week.
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A resolution put forth at Wednesday’s meeting passed unanimously as part of council’s consent agenda; it authorizes the city manager to apply for a Bureau of Justice Assistance Body-Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program Grant worth $339,367.
The grant requires a 50% local match of $169,684 over the three-year term; the city has identified $57,000 in this year’s budget to cover the first year. The money will allow the city to purchase 45 body-worn cameras and 25 point-of-view cameras, which are smaller than the chest-mounted body cameras affixed to eyewear or headgear.
If awarded, the cameras will allow for the WPD to provide all officers their own dedicated camera.
“Every sworn officer will have an assigned camera ensuring consistent documentation across all divisions,” Capt. Rodney Dawson told council. “Adding POV cameras will allow tactical teams to record from their direct line of sight, improving evidence collection and after-action reviews. Overall, the expansion enhances accountability, safety, and training value for the entire department.”
The Wilmington Police Department currently operates 241 body-worn cameras, used by most uniformed officers to document interactions, support criminal investigations, and enhance transparency. The footage is uploaded securely to the department’s digital evidence management system for review, case preparation, and public disclosure as allowed by law. Camera footage typically needs a court order before public release.
A subsidiary of the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Justice Assistance was created in 1984 to “reduce violent crime, create safer communities, and reform our nation’s criminal justice system.” BJA provides funding, educational opportunities and research, tools and equipment and partnerships.
The WPD has received grant funding from the BJA’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, or JAG, Program in 2015. The department purchased 76 body-worn cameras with the money.
According to the grant guidelines, applicants must demonstrate a clear plan for phased deployment, policy development, training, and integration of BWCs into agency operations. Properly implemented programs, per the guidelines, “strengthen the evidentiary foundation for criminal prosecutions, provide reliable documentation of officer-citizen encounters, and deter assaults on officers.”
“All body-worn cameras will be worn in accordance with the department’s existing policy, which “follows nationally recognized standards and DOJ guidelines,” Dawson said.
The policy requires cameras be activated during calls for service, citizen contacts, and enforcement actions unless an approved exception applies, such as sensitive victim interviews. Each officer’s assigned camera will be mounted on the torso or uniform chest area to provide a forward-facing perspective. The point-of-view cameras, designed for specialized units, mount to eyewear, helmets, or hats to capture the officer’s direct line of sight.
The grant guidelines state the BJA anticipates the distribution of 30 awards, but doesn’t list a date on which the awards will be announced. With the current federal government shutdown, the process could take longer than normal.
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