Freeport police to enhance body cams, ShotSpotter with new Retail Crime grant

FREEPORT, Ill. (WTVO) — The Freeport Police Department has been awarded significant funding to enhance its technological capabilities, with a $9,000 Organized Retail Crime grant from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and $630,000 in FY26 appropriations from US Senator Dick Durbin’s office.

The funding will support technological upgrades for the department, including maintaining existing Shot Spotter coverage and expanding the use of body-worn cameras.

The appropriations will also allow the Freeport Police Department to acquire two additional squad video cameras and DVRs, a drone, license plate reader cameras, and a mobile command trailer. These enhancements are aimed at improving the department’s ability to respond to and manage incidents more effectively.

However, the implementation of these plans is contingent upon the passage of the appropriations bill, which will determine the availability of the $630,000 funding from Senator Durbin’s office.

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