Tenn. department secures $2.5M grant for body-worn cameras

Oak Ridge PD / Facebook

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Oak Ridge Police Department will launch a body-worn camera program after state lawmakers announced $2.5 million in funding from Tennessee’s Violent Crime Intervention Fund. The appropriation will cover the purchase of cameras and related technology for the 57-officer agency that serves about 34,000 residents.

State Rep. Rick Scarbrough and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said the money is intended to support evidence-based tools that improve officer safety and reduce violent crime.

“Body-worn cameras enhance transparency and accountability while strengthening trust between officers and the communities they serve,” Scarbrough said, noting his own background in law enforcement.

McNally called the purchase “a vital tool to the Oak Ridge Police that builds trust, transparency and accountability in our public safety system. Body cameras protect our officers from false accusations, provide critical evidence in criminal cases and strengthen public confidence in our justice system. It’s a common-sense investment in safer, more effective policing.”

The Violent Crime Intervention Fund , created by the General Assembly in 2023, helps agencies adopt technologies, strategies and programs proven to curb violent crime. Oak Ridge joins a growing list of Tennessee departments using the fund to expand digital-evidence capabilities. Implementation timelines, vendor selection and policy development were not immediately released, but officials said the grant fully covers camera acquisition and initial deployment costs.


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