Congressman Cleaver Pushes for Body Camera and Community Policing Funding

Press Release

Today, Congressman Cleaver sent a letter to President Obama supporting the inclusion of body cameras and community policing in the upcoming President's Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year 2016.

"The tragic events that unfolded in Ferguson, Missouri should not be repeated," said Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II. "We can work to do this by giving our local police officers the best tools and training available to protect and serve our communities. This funding would be a great step to increase transparency and accountability for both law enforcement, and also the public. Make no mistake, to help communities pay for the cameras, the federal government should step up and support the effort."

These tools would be funded under the Department of Justice's Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program for the Fiscal Year 2016 budget. The letter is available here.

On December 11, 2014, Congressman Cleaver introduced H.R. 5865, the Camera Authorization and Maintenance Act or CAM Act, to encourage the use of body cameras by law enforcement agencies across the country. The bill will soon be reintroduced in the 114th Congress.

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