Appropriate grant for $1,359,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance Fiscal Year 2024 Byrne Discretionary Grants Program for FY 2024-25

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) implemented a bureau-wide program that included the acquisition of 1,117 body worn cameras and associated peripherals, substantial training, appropriate policy, and the continued development of support personnel and standard practices to ensure BWC records requests are processed correctly and in a timely fashion. In addition to building trust with local communities through increased transparency, the BWC footage will also be integral in ensuring officer and community safety. The size and complexity of the City of Portland make innovative programs like BWC projects important developments across the entire jurisdiction. PPB has long-monitored other jurisdictions’ BWC programs and taken a wholistic approach to developing a comprehensive BWC program and policy. To ensure the program is comprehensive and managed effectively, the BWC team will continue to work with internal external stakeholders like the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, the Portland Police Association, City Council, the City Attorney’s Office, mental health providers, victim advocates, and community members to ensure the program is collaborative. The full implementation of the BWC program, and its success, drew heavily on the lessons learned from the successful Pilot Program and will require PPB to continue to work to ensure transparency.

This action will increase PPB's Grant Fund appropriation by $1,359,000 for FY 2024-25. There is no match required by this grant.

Not applicable.

One goal of PPB’s BWC program is to deploy BWCs to all sworn members engaging in daily interactions with the community. To achieve this goal, PPB has identified the following community-focused objectives: Build community trust through transparency; document encounters and provide an extra level of accountability and a better understanding of what has occurred in critical high-profile incidents; and provide an impartial view of any incident to help resolve community complaints of misconduct and ensure accountability. PPB will also continue to engage with community partners to continue evaluating the program and identifying adjustments and possible changes.