OPD Applies for Federal Grants

The Olney City Council on Feb. 24 approved a grant application that would allow the Olney Police Department to upgrade and synchronize its body cameras, in-car video systems, and Tasers — at no cost to the city.

Council members unanimously authorized the OPD to apply for the Trust Through Transparency Grant, a fully funded state program designed to enhance law enforcement accountability and technology.

Police Chief Bryan Barrett told the council the grant would provide approximately $79,000 per year for five years once initially approved.

“It’s 100 percent funded,” Chief Barrett said. “There’s no obligation on the city. There’s zero match.”

Chief Barrett said the department’s current equipment is functional but outdated in terms of integration. Body cameras, in-car video and Tasers operate independently and do not communicate with one another.

“None of our video systems talk to each other,” Chief Barrett said. “Our Tasers don’t have video at all.”

If approved, the grant would allow the department to sync body cameras with patrol car cameras, upgrade Tasers to current models equipped with video and GPS capabilities, and integrate all systems into a unified platform “It’s just a little clunky,” Chief Barrett said of the current setup. “We have to go here for our in-car video, go here for our body cam, and our Tasers don’t have it at all.”

He said the upgrades would modernize the department and provide better documentation of officer use-of-force incidents.

“Ninety-nine point nine percent of officers are going to do the right thing,” Barrett said. “We need video proof of that.”

Chief Barrett explained that once approved, the grant functions largely as a “rubber stamp” for the remaining four years, provided the department reapplies annually and funding remains available.

“There’s only so much money in the bucket each year,” he said, “but once you’re approved on the initial, they pretty much do it all.”

Chief Barrett noted the department plans to pursue at least one additional grant through the same funding source before an August deadline. He also mentioned the possibility of applying for a Safe and Drug-Free Schools grant in the future, which could fund a fully outfitted school resource officer for three years.

“That’s something you might be thinking about and asking about any time you want,” Chief Barrett told the Council, adding that no agency in the region is currently applying for the program.

For now, the Trust Through Transparency Grant would place Olney’s police technology “way ahead,” he said.

With Council approval secured, the OPD will submit the application and await notification from the Governor’s Office, he said.