Dutchess County Advances Police Reform and Modernization with
Body Worn Cameras Shared Services Purchase Program
Poughkeepsie, NY – As part of the Police Reform and Modernization Collaborative, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro has announced the County is coordinating and funding a collaborative purchase of body worn cameras for the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and local law enforcement agencies. Body worn cameras (BWCs), along with numerous other best practices, are an important tool to increase public trust in law enforcement. The program will save thousands of dollars for local municipalities and law enforcement agencies interested in implementing the use of BWCs.
“The Dutchess County Police Reform and Modernization Collaborative was formed to help improve and reform policing, building on the efforts already underway throughout the county,” said County Executive Molinaro. “This newest shared service initiative allows us to partner with municipalities to create a network of interoperable body worn cameras, which will further enhance our collaboration among policing agencies in Dutchess County.”
In letters sent last week, County Executive Molinaro has invited all municipalities and police agencies to take advantage of a joint purchasing collaboration. The collaboration will include Dutchess County providing a one-time payment of $2,800 per BWC unit, which covers the first two years of a standard package including camera, software, hardware, storage, and other essential features; plus $2,000 per agency to cover start-up expenses.
Embracing the Police Reform and Modernization Collaborative’s recommendations, the DCSO published its Police Reform & Modernization plan in February 2021 and, following public comment and feedback, the Dutchess County Legislature certified the plan in March 2021 ahead of the State’s deadline.
The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office will be ordering 70 units for Sheriff’s Deputies and an additional 32 for Corrections Officers through the collaborative purchase agreement.
Dutchess County Acting Sheriff Kirk Imperati said, “The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office undertakes regular self-evaluation as part of our commitment to being at the forefront of law enforcement professionalism and we are grateful to County Executive Molinaro for his commitment to supporting law enforcement throughout Dutchess County. Transparency, community outreach, accountability, public safety, and training make up the foundation of our office’s success and we look forward to taking this next step in modernizing our organization.”
To participate in the BWC program, municipalities are required to return a letter of intent to the County by September 9th, including how many units will be purchased. Among the first to agree to participate in the program was the City of Poughkeepsie, which requested 65 BWCs for the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, expanding the Department’s current number of BWCs for on-duty officers.
City of Poughkeepsie Police Chief Thomas Pape said, “The City of Poughkeepsie Police Department understands the value of transparency, accountability, and modernization as we work to enhance relationships with the community, build trust and improve dialogue and understanding. We are grateful to the County for their financial support to providing this vital equipment that will enhance our ability to ensure trust between our officers and the communities they serve.”
Once all letters of intent are received, a resolution for the full BWC purchase will be submitted to the Dutchess County Legislature for review and approval at its October board meeting.
For more information on the County’s Police Reform and Modernization Collaborative, visit dutchessny.gov/policereform.
