• Vancouver has been awarded $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) to help implement a police camera program.
• Congressional delegation support for a federal budget earmark was authorized in March 2022, which led to an invitational grant process with the USDOJ in June.
• This federal award will allow Vancouver to accelerate the timeline for implementation, while providing City leaders with time to plan and budget for longer-term sustainability and ongoing costs.
• Grant funding has been approved for the purchase and implementation of a police camera system, which may include cameras and accessories, hardware and software, infrastructure and connectivity, and data management and storage.
• This project is part of a larger citywide initiative to update and revitalize community policing and provide a safer community.

City leaders have engaged community members, staff and stakeholders in establishing the foundation for a police camera program as part of a greater citywide initiative to enhance community policing and public safety.

While the Vancouver Police Department does not currently have local resources budgeted to implement this project without federal assistance, City leaders have moved forward in response to strong community support, and we are excited to announce that this grant award will make it possible for the City of Vancouver to purchase and launch a police camera system this fall.

In order to demonstrate responsiveness to community priorities and implement this project in the swiftest responsible manner, the City of Vancouver committed locally-funded staffing and resources to provide timely, inclusive, and transparent processes to ensure due diligence and prepare for successful deployment.

After a two-year public engagement process that has embedded community members, staff and stakeholders at each stage, key accomplishments currently in place include network design and infrastructure improvements, program and policy development, ratification of labor contract changes, and competitive procurement processes, which are nearing completion.

This Vancouver Police Camera Program is a key investment that will help to improve police-community interactions and provide a professional level of service that is consistent with industry best practices and the expectations of our community. We welcome this opportunity to enhance the safety of police officers and the public, while contributing to a climate of trust and transparency.

This federal grant will not supplant or replace local funds, but will instead accelerate project implementation by increasing the City’s current budget available for this project, while also leveraging local resources by providing City leaders with time to plan and budget for the local funding needed to ensure longer-term program sustainability and ongoing costs. 

Accepting this federal grant award will:  

• Provide $1.5 million to assist Vancouver with purchasing and implementing a police camera program this fall.
• Serve as a financial bridge accelerating project launch, while providing Vancouver leaders with time to plan and budget for the resources needed to ensure longer-term sustainability.
• Enhance community policing and public safety by investing in new measures to foster transparency and trust.