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Lexington Police Working To Outfit All Sworn Officers With Bodycams

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

Lexington police are working to equip all sworn personnel, including some civilian employees, with body cameras. The initiative comes as a Louisville lawmaker is backing legislation that would mandate bodycams in all police agencies.

Credit AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File

This week Lexington's Urban County Council gave its preliminary okay to a federal grant meant to help the police department purchase bodycam equipment. While the department's bodycam program launched four years ago, it does not extend to roughly 200 of the agency's authorized force of 633 officers.

The $135,000 grant would help meet the department's goal of equipping all officers, including Chief Lawrence Weathers.

Mayor Linda Gorton has said bodycams are essential and though expensive, it's "money well spent."

In Frankfort, Democratic state Rep. Attica Scott is filing Breonna's Law, named for Breonna Taylor, the 26-year-old Black woman who was shot and killed in her home by Louisville police officers in March. In addition to ending no-knock warrants and requiring a judge's approval for forceful entries using instruments such as battering rams, the legislation would also mandate bodycam usage at all police agencies. Violations would result in suspension or termination.

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Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now known as Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and Program Director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.