Cinnaminson Police Officers Now Equipped With Body Cameras

CINNAMINSON, NJ — As of Monday, Nov. 6, Cinnaminson police officers are equipped with body-worn cameras, the police department announced. The WatchGuard Vista Wearable Body Camera functions as a camera and DVR combination to collect video and audio evidence. The department’s police cars are already equipped with iin-car video cameras.

Director Michael P. King believes in the importance of accountability for all parties involved in a police encounter. He said he knows everyone has a smartphone that can take video, but sometimes, only a portion of the event is publicized.

“This technology will not only hold officers accountable for their conduct, but also ensure the facts of an event are recorded in its entirety,” the police department said in a release. “The cameras will pay a huge dividend in reducing litigation while increasing officer efficiency. The cameras will protect our officers and township from frivolous allegations, allow us to capture the events in real-time as they unfold and prevent expensive and time-consuming lawsuits.”

The cameras will be used to document events, actions, conditions and statements made during investigative stops, field interviews, arrests and critical incidents.

In 2015, the Attorney General's Office issued a statewide policy establishing guidelines for deploying the cameras. That policy was designed to promote best practices and uniformity in using the devices. The policy – which guides police departments statewide that decide to deploy body cameras – establishes foundational requirements while allowing individual police departments to tailor policies to local needs. It can be seen here.

Ultimately, though, the decision regarding whether to acquire body-worn cameras remains up to individual police departments and municipalities. This purchase was approved by Cinnaminson Township Committee and funded through a $14,000 grant from the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, which paid for 28 body-worn cameras.

The attached image was previously provided