I-TEAM: New Jersey To Outfit All Troopers With Body Cameras
By Charlotte Huffman
TRENTON, N.J., (CBS) -- Attorney General John J. Hoffman announced details Tuesday to make New Jersey among the first states to put body cameras on all state troopers.
The state plans to purchase 1,000 body cameras to outfit any trooper working in the field.
"Public confidence in our police officers is absolutely, positively vital and the way to maintain mutual respect and trust between law enforcement and our communities is through accountability of both police and civilians," said Hoffman.
Tuesday's announcement comes after a string of high-profile incidents, including the controversial shooting last year of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.
"It's a small device that can go a long way in preserving confidence and trust so that truth rules the day, not emotions, not agendas and not personal bias," said Hoffman.
In addition to helping police gather evidence during criminal investigations, traffic stops, frisks and arrests, officials say the cameras will act as an objective witness in police involved shootings and use of force incidents.
The devices are to be bought in batches over the next year.
The price tag? $4 million total.
$1.5 million from state police's existing budget will be used to purchase the cameras and computer upgrades for state troopers.
The state also plans to use $2.5 million in criminal forfeiture funds to help local police departments buy cameras.
Depending on the city's population, local police departments will be eligible to receive $75,000 to $150,000 in state funding.
Whether a department purchases the cameras is a decision that will be left to each individual department and municipality.
In addition, Hoffman is issuing a statewide policy governing how the body cameras should be used and when officers are allowed to turn them off.
"Face it everybody has cellphones. Everybody is videotaping us and now it's been getting to the point where the videos are being edited and forwarded but with (body cams) the video can't be edited by anyone," said Lt. Craig Shute, Rowan University Police Department.
Rowan University Police Department was one of the first university departments to begin using body cameras, which have been growing in usage.
According to the ACLU, over the past year the following states have passed bills having to do with body cameras:
South Carolina mandates body cameras for all officers. Connecticut mandates body cameras on the state level only.
Colorado, Maryland, and Louisiana have passed bills to fund body cameras, but the use of them is voluntary.
Other states such as California, Seattle, NY have conducted pilot programs and are working mainly on the local level.
Additional Links from NJOAG initiative:
Link to Deadly Force Investigation Fact Sheet: http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases15/Deadly-Force-Investigations_Fact-Sheet.pdf
Link to Body Camera Police Fact Sheet: http://nj.gov/oag/newsreleases15/Body-Camera-Policy_Fact-Sheet.pdf
Link to AG Directive on Deadly Force Investigations: http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases15/AG-Directive_Deadly-Force-Investigations.pdf
Link to AG Directive on Body Cameras: http://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases15/AG-Directive_Body-Cams.pdf
