Today, Assemblymember Monica Wallace (D-Lancaster) announced that she secured $96,000 for the Lancaster Police Department to purchase body-worn cameras to improve transparency in its interactions with the public.

Assemblymember Wallace advocated for and helped pass a $10 million fund for municipal police departments to purchase body cameras. With Assemblymember Wallace’s support, the Lancaster Police Department was awarded this funding after previously preparing a reform plan that identified increased transparency as a central goal and called for the use of body cameras by all LPD officers.

“Body cameras increase transparency into law enforcement interactions with the public and provide valuable evidence of potential wrongdoing during these encounters. That’s why the Lancaster Police Department identified the acquisition of body cameras as a central goal, and it’s why I advocated for and passed this critical funding source for local law enforcement,” said Assemblymember Wallace. “I’m glad to have secured this funding to alleviate the burden on local taxpayers and to improve trust and accountability in our law enforcement.”

“For the last several years, the Lancaster Police Department has sought assistance in purchasing body cameras for our officers,” said Lancaster Police Chief William Karn, Jr. “We know that video recorded by police body cameras increases transparency, accountability and trust between the community and its police department. The cameras help protect both the officers and citizens.This recent funding will help us meet our goal to obtain quality body cameras and allow us to better protect and serve the residents of Lancaster. We thank Assemblymember Wallace for her efforts to secure much-needed resources for our police department and other local first responders in our community.”

Assemblymember Wallace has prioritized securing resources for local first responders, including providing LPD with funding for ballistic helmets, a new speed trailer, upgraded fingerprint collection technology, and an automated external defibrillator in every patrol vehicle, which will allow police to immediately render aid to individuals who are experiencing cardiac arrest. She has also secured funding for body cameras for the Depew Police Department, technology to help the Cheektowaga Police Department screen individuals for substance use disorder, and equipment for local fire departments.