Project Shield: A $45 Million Waste Of Taxpayer Money

By aaroncynic in News on Jan 9, 2012 7:00PM

Project Shield, a $45 million Homeland Security project intended to give wireless capability to first responders in emergency situations, was found to be a waste of taxpayer money, according to the Sun-Times. A report obtained by NBC5 and the Sun-Times said an investigation into the project showed “missing records, improper procurement practices, unallowable costs and unaccountable inventory items” in 15 15 municipalities. Sen. Mark Kirk and U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley are calling for an FBI investigation.

Squad cars were to be fitted with cameras which would feed live video into a central command. A six month investigation by the Inspector General found that the cameras didn’t work and blocked air bag deployment in the cars. The cameras cost $65,000 each and a total of 138 cars were equipped. The majority of suburban areas either returned the equipment or opted out after technical difficulties. When Quigley asked the Government Accountability Office in 2009 to investigate, he said “We have spent hundreds of millions of dollars across the country on homeland security. If Project Shield is any indication, we are less safe.”

The project was over budget in 2010, which led to the DHS audit. Quigley and former County commissioners Tony Peraica and Forrest Claypool called for an investigation into the handling of Project Shield as far back as 2008. Project Shield was approved by the late County Board President John Stroger but implemented by his son Todd. The program, which was originally supposed to cost $38.5 million, ran over budget and was never completed.

A copy of the DHS report can be found here (pdf).