Deluzio, Fetterman Announce $514,000 for Police Body Cameras, Equipment Upgrades at Wilkinsburg Police Department
Announcement comes during National Police Week
WILKINSBURG, PA – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (D-PA-17) and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) announced a $514,000 federal investment in the Wilkinsburg Police Department. Funded by the annual congressional funding bills, the Wilkinsburg Police Department is a recipient of a Community Project Funding request that Congressman Deluzio and Senator Fetterman jointly put forward last year. Their funding request was ultimately successful and was finalized when the funding measures passed into law in early March.
At a press conference at the Department joined by Police Chief Ophelia Coleman and Mayor Dontae Comans, Congressman Deluzio and Senator Fetterman presented an oversized check and discussed how these funds will help the Wilkinsburg Police Department upgrade body-worn cameras and more to help keep residents safe. Photos of the event are available here.
"During National Police Week, we celebrate and honor the police officers who protect and serve our communities—and there is no better way to salute their service than to give them the tools they need to keep folks safe” said Congressman Deluzio. “I am proud that Senator Fetterman and I secured $514,000 to help the Wilkinsburg Police Department continue their important public safety work and to purchase updated body cameras—a key tool to improve trust and accountability in the community.”
“This federal funding for the Wilkinsburg Police Department will help ensure our officers have the resources they need to serve and protect the Wilkinsburg community,” said Senator Fetterman. “Equipping officers with updated body cameras enhances trust and transparency between officers and civilians, provides important evidence for the justice system, and improves accountability to the communities they serve. I'm proud to celebrate this milestone during National Police Week, and I’m proud to have fought for and secured this funding with Congressman Deluzio."
More specifically, the $514,000 announced today will help the Wilkinsburg Police Department upgrade outdated and insufficient equipment systems, including officer body-worn cameras. The current body camera system being used by the department is at the end of its useful life and not compatible with recently upgraded in-car camera units. This funding will allow the department to purchase the latest technology, which includes state-of-the-art digital technology, cloud-based storage, camera activation by multiple triggers (such as drawing a firearm, drawing a taser, or utilizing a baton), and has the ability to link multiple cameras together and connect to the recently upgraded in-car camera systems, allowing for more camera footage to be captured during critical incidents.
“The Wilkinsburg Police Department is a vital part of the Wilkinsburg community, not only to enforce the law, preventing crime and providing emergency response and support services,” said Wilkinsburg Police Chief Ophelia Coleman. “It’s important that we continue to nurture a relationship of trust and transparency between the community and the member of WPD. It is also important to us that we have the proper and adequate equipment and infrastructure to execute our mission statement. Congressman Deluzio and Senator Fetterman understand what is necessary to address the quality-of-life issues that plague a community like Wilkinsburg and others. This is such a great day for us, and I can’t tell you how thankful we are to the Senator and Congressman for recognizing our need and coming to our aid.”
“I want to thank Congressman Deluzio and Senator Fetterman for this amazing announcement that’s been a long time coming, but is worth the wait,” said Wilkinsburg Mayor Dontae Comans. “This was a group effort to get all this done and get the money that we need to take Wilkinsburg into the future and to protect our citizens—each and every one, no matter what part of Wilkinsburg they live in, we are here to represent and protect them.”
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