Memphis Police to receive $1.9M for crime-fighting cameras, officer equipment

David Royer
·2 min read
4

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Police Department is set to receive $1.9 million from the federal government that will go toward surveillance cameras and officer equipment.

MPD’s Sentinel Surveillance Cameras Project will receive $963,000. That program will add new and upgraded surveillance cameras to help police fight crimes including auto theft.

Another $963,000 will go toward the Officer Equipment Improvement Project, for equipment that will improve officers’ safety.

The funding was secured in Congress by Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Memphis).

Cohen will appear with Mayor Paul Young and Police Chief C.J. Davis in a press conference at City Hall at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

During the press conference, Cohen said one of the biggest problems we have is crime and that it deters people from moving here.

“This program has been instrumental in solving crimes,” he said. “I had to think about Tyre Nichols in doing this because those lights show crime. Crime committed upon Tyre Nichols.”

Young also agreed that the cameras would help combat crime stating, “Stepping up technologically will be a big part in the next generation of crime fighting.”

He says he feels positive about multiple agencies collaborating on crime since his term in office.

“We are trying to form a coalition,” he said.

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MPD is trying to use more civilians for certain jobs to maximize officers.

“Can’t have enough technology, not enough manpower, more cameras, more equipment to work smarter, not harder,” Davis said.

She expressed the importance of the funding and how it will allow them to purchase and integrate more cameras into more high-crime areas.

“The camera project has been ongoing now for several months, over a year we started integrating cameras last year. We’re continuing to purchase cameras and integrate existing cameras,” Davis said. “This funding is going to allow us to purchase even more and be more specific in areas where there isn’t a camera footprint that we need one, we’ll be able to install cameras in those areas.”

Davis also said they should start utilizing the fund starting next month.

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