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The UAMS Police Department will soon see improvements in equipment and technology.
UAMS Police Department Awarded $1 Million for Equipment Upgrades
| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Police Department is in line for equipment and technology improvements thanks to $1 million in funding from the Department of Justice (DOJ).
The DOJ Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office Technology and Equipment Program provides grants to state, local, Tribal, territorial and other entities to develop and acquire effective equipment, technologies and interoperable communications that assist in responding to and preventing crime.
The grant is congressionally directed funding championed by Arkansas’ U.S. Sen. John Boozman.
Christina Clark, MBA, vice chancellor for institutional support services and chief operating officer, said the monies will support the purchase of body cameras, video evidence storage equipment, dispatch radios, metal detectors and surveillance trailers.
Christina Clark, MBA, vice chancellor for institutional support services and chief operating officer.
“The UAMS Police Department currently does not have body cameras on officers. This technology improves officer safety and provides the justice system with an impartial witness in cases where there may be a dispute,” she said. “The video footage from these body cameras is another source of evidence in ongoing investigations, providing a means to verify witness accounts and testimonies in internal, criminal and civil cases.
“Additionally, recording of encounters with our officers can help to reduce civilian complaints and legal liability in these situations. Therefore, complementary equipment for storing the videos to be retrieved as evidence is a necessary additional investment,” Clark added.
The DOJ has invested more than $14 billion in community policing since the COPS Office Technology and Equipment Program began in 1994.
The program’s goal is to increase community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts of law enforcement agencies. The objective is to provide funding for projects that improve police effectiveness and the flow of information among law enforcement agencies, local government service providers and the communities they serve.
The DOJ grant will also allow the police department to complete its radio upgrade in the dispatch center, which includes providing for cross-communication between agencies.
“We will be able to purchase the necessary radios, software, hardware and equipment needed to enhance our existing system,” said Clark. “The portables and mobiles have been upgraded and this is the last part of our communications network.”
Clark noted how the surveillance trailers will aid officers in observing parking lots and other areas at UAMS.
“Installing a surveillance trailer in our parking lots around campus will help with an increased sense of security for all who come to UAMS. We also plan to purchase a mobile surveillance trailer with cameras that will be positioned at different locations.”
The UAMS Police Department is officially recognized as UAMS’ law enforcement agency. All officers are certified by the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training.
The department is tasked with securing the main UAMS campus in Little Rock, as well coordinating with nearby areas and with other UAMS sites in Arkansas. The department coordinates with the University of Arkansas and covers some non-UAMS areas, including Arkansas Children’s Hospital and War Memorial Stadium.