The wave of body camera usage has not stopped short of New Jersey as more law enforcement agencies begin use
The Mantua Township Police Department will soon join the growing number of law enforcement agencies utilizing body-worn cameras. After the Department of Justice, under the influence of President Obama in 2015, awarded $23.2 million to 73 local and tribal agencies in 32 states for the purchase of body-worn cameras, the use of these devices has become a norm.
Numbers gathered by the state Attorney General’s Office show that in 2016 approximately 200 of the nearly 500 police departments in the state began utilizing these devices.
While not part of the initial group awarded funds, Mantua was issued a $12,500 grant by the Division of Criminal Justice recently to assist with the purchase of the cameras and training materials.
Chief of Police Darren White said, “The benefits to body cameras are numerous. Currently, everybody has access to a camera in their pocket at all times. Unfortunately, oftentimes, the video that makes it out to the public is only a snippet of the entire encounter.
“With body cameras, we are able to present a more accurate depiction of the entire event, not just the ‘exciting’ part.”
The department is testing models from Axon and Panasonic and waiting on a demo from Watchgaurd. The grant lasts until the end of the year.
White said a decision on which model will be based on cost, data storage capabilities, size, battery life, ease of use and other aspects.
While the grant money will greatly assist with the purchase, these cameras can cost upward of $500 apiece and storage and user agreements come at additional costs.
While the debate over the usefulness of these cameras is making headlines across the county, White feels the cameras will assist with offering more concrete information after an incident.
“There is a higher level of accountability on everybody’s part if they know they are being recorded,” he said, adding, “We need to show a complete and accurate narrative rather than a few second video clip, and body cameras can help with this.”
Neighboring Harrison Township Police Department is about halfway through a trial period with Axon that expires Dec. 1.
Harrison Township Chief of Police Thomas Mills noted the only downside of these cameras is the cost, stating the upside includes, “Better evidence, officer accountability, better communication and trust with our residents.”
In 2015, the state’s Attorney General’s Office issued a news release detailing several reasons to push for body-worn cameras.
“Body cameras offer promise to promote accountability of both police and civilians, to enhance evidence collection, and to reduce the number and cost of citizen complaints and internal affairs investigations,” the release reads.
It later details that cameras must be activated during traffic stops, witness interviews, custodial interrogations, protective frisks, searches and arrests noting that departments are “expressly authorized to impose additional requirements beyond — but not inconsistent with — those established in the directive.”
