“In addition to helping police gather evidence, body cameras will act as an objective witness in police-involved shootings and other use of force incidents, so that truth rules the day and not emotions, agendas or personal bias”, Hoffman said.
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All of New Jersey State Police officers will be equipped with body cameras by early next year, recording their interactions with the public.
About 30 law enforcement agencies in New Jersey are using cameras to some degree already.
“Public confidence in our police officers is absolutely, positively vital”, Hoffman said at news conference in Trenton, flanked by local police chiefs, county prosecutors, members of the clergy and African American community leaders.
Gov. Chris Christie’s administration will dedicate $1.5 million from the existing state police budget to outfit 1,000 troopers with the devices, the Wall Street Journal reported. In some of those cases, unarmed black men were killed by police during routine stops, setting off a national outcry. “At the same time, we are trying to stay out ahead and as proactive as possible”.
“Across the country, we’ve seen what happens when distrust and distance between police and their communities result in situations that can quickly spiral out of control”, Christie said in the release. Hoffman, the state’s acting attorney general, the WSJ reports, troopers will be required to have the cameras on during traffic stops, frisks, arrests and civil-disobedience actions. But troopers would be allowed to turn off the cameras in some cases, including interviews of domestic-violence or sexual-assault victims. While the aid and guidance will encourage statewide use of body cameras, the decision to acquire them is left to each local police department on a voluntary basis. In response, protestors have called on law enforcement officers to wear body cameras, among other demands.
Reuters/Reuters New Jersey is following the NYPD’s lead as it announced it will equip 1,000 state troopers with cameras that can be worn on their shirts or hats.
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Police departments will apply for body camera assistance through their county prosecutors. For example, he said, a police department would not be able to participate in an investigation of one of its own officers. Officials unveiled the details Tuesday.
