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Federal Gov. Awards Grants For Police Body Cameras In Kansas

PATRICK T. FALLON BLOOMBERG VIA GETTY IMAGES

The federal government has awarded grants for law enforcement body cameras to Wichita, Dodge City, Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas.

U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said Monday the U.S. Justice Department grants are among $23.2 million awarded to more than 70 law enforcement agencies in 32 states to increase the use of body cameras.

President Barack Obama has proposed buying 50,000 body cameras for law enforcement agencies in three years.

The money can be used to establish a plan to use the cameras and provide training before the cameras are purchased.

The grants require a 50/50 local match. Local governments must pay for long-term storage of information from the cameras.

The Wichita Police Department will receive a $250,000 grant. In a statement, Interim Police Chief Nelson Mosley said the department is in "the final stages of the Body Worn Camera process" and has bought the first 106 cameras. Training for the new equipment is expected to begin in early October. 

This story was originally published Monday, Sept. 21, and was updated Wednesday at 12:15 p.m.

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Follow Abigail Wilson on Twitter @AbigailKMUW.

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