Oak Grove approves state grant applications to replace squad and body cameras; $25,000 grant listed as preferred item

The Board of Aldermen approved a motion to submit a 2026 Local Violent Crime Prevention grant application to help replace in-car and body-worn camera systems for the police department and acknowledged staff had already submitted a Blue Shield application for mobile video/audio recording systems.

"This is a $25,000 grant that will cover equipment, and the body cams are listed as a preferred item, for that grant," the Police Chief said. The chief said the city submitted the Blue Shield application in the prior grant window because of timing and asked the Board—s forgiveness for the short notice.

The Chief told the Board the camera replacement project has an estimated total cost of about $134,000; staff hope to fund roughly $75,000 of that through state grants including Blue Shield and the violent crime prevention grant. The chief gave a tentative timeline: the grant period runs from October through May 2026, and Blue Shield decisions were expected before Oct. 1.

Aldermen thanked staff for pursuing grants. Board members asked whether the city meets Blue Shield eligibility criteria; the chief replied, "Everything that we have to meet, we already meet. They won't allow the application to proceed unless we have the policies in place, the activities are already undertook, and the criteria is already met." The motion to approve the grant application passed by voice vote.

The Board recorded no further action beyond authorizing submission of grant applications; any equipment purchase would depend on final grant awards and subsequent procurement approvals.