'A force multiplier.' Memphis Police Department gets $1.9 million for new technology

Almost $2 million in federal grants has been secured for the Memphis Police Department to enhance various technologies. Rep. Steve Cohen announced the funding at a press conference Tuesday, talking briefly about Tyre Nichols, and saying the additional lights and cameras captured the beating that led to his death.

“This program has been instrumental in solving crimes,” Cohen said. “I had to think about Tyre Nichols in doing this because those lights show crime–crime committed upon Tyre Nichols."

Cohen, Memphis Mayor Paul Young and interim Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis stood together for the first time since Young was elected to discuss the funding. Davis and Young both thanked Cohen for the work he did to secure the funding but also spoke about how the money would be used to aid in policing.

"We don't have enough manpower. So, when you don't have human resources, technology can be a force multiplier," Davis said. "We are looking forward to more advanced technology, more cameras, more equipment for our officers to work smarter, not harder."

More: A look at Memphis police's camera integration system, & why MPD says it helps fight crime

The money will be spent on securing additional upgraded crime surveillance equipment and equipment improvements for officers. Davis said one of the equipment upgrades will be body-worn cameras that trigger automatically when blue lights are detected, or weapons are removed from officer's holsters.

Sentinel Surveillance Cameras Project will receive $963,000 and the other $969,000 will go towards officer equipment upgrades.

Brooke Muckerman covers Shelby County Government for The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at [email protected] and followed on X, formerly known as Twitter @BrookeMuckerman.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis police get federal grant to update technology, cameras