NJ Police Depts. Receive $2.5M To Equip Officers With Body Cameras
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Police departments in New Jersey are getting money to purchase and equip officers with body cameras.
Acting Attorney General John Hoffman on Monday announced 176 police departments will share $2.5 million to purchase the cameras. The money was forfeited by criminals.
Hoffman said the move will put the state in the forefront of embracing the technology, WCBS 880's Kelly Waldron reported.
"To protect themselves, to assist them in doing their work, and to fostered real meaning and lasting community relations," Hoffman said.
The award will support the purchases of more than 5,000 body cameras.
Plans are also underway to equip New Jersey State Police with the body camera technology.
So far, 100 body cameras have been issued, with up to 1,000 to be received over the next several months.
Hoffman says the body cameras promote transparency, mutual accountability and trust between police and the public.
Police officers in Howell, Wall and Middletown Townships, of Monmouth County, began wearing body cameras in May. Forty police officers in Essex County were equipped with the cameras in August.
In September, Elizabeth County also announced they would be using forfeiture funds to equip 550 of their officers with cameras.
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