$475K For Gloucester Police Equipment Includes Tasers, Computers

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township Council took the initial step toward upgrading some equipment for its police department when it introduced a $475,805 bond ordinance Monday night.

Council approved a proposed bond ordinance on introduction to set aside $475,805, including the borrowing of $453,147 to purchase capital equipment for the police department during Monday night’s meeting at the municipal building.

The equipment includes Axon-brand Tasers, which concerned one resident who attended Monday night's meeting.

She referenced a report she recently read that said newer tasers are less effective than older ones. They sometimes don’t work, end up making a suspect more aggressive, and that sometimes results in an officer shooting the suspect.

“Our current model is a 2-shot model,” Harkins said. “This is in case the first shot is not effective because the suspect’s clothes are too thick in colder weather, or if a person moves a certain way, it won’t work.”

He said Gloucester Township police officers are properly trained in a simulator and the equipment is constantly tested. He also said the police department is only allowed to consider equipment that has been approved by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

“Our equipment is in tip-top condition for the most part,” Harkins said. “One feature we have is that when the taser is flipped on, the camera goes on automatically because we have to have footage of every use-of-force incident.”

Resident Paul Krug was concerned about the financial aspect of the proposal.

“If things are up to snuff, maybe a bond ordinance isn’t necessary, especially when you just borrowed a $10 million tax anticipation note,” Krug said.

Krug was referring to $10 million the township recently revealed that it borrowed due to the uncertainty surrounding tax collection and miscellaneous revenue streams surrounding the coronavirus. Read more here: Gloucester Twp. Borrows $10M Of $53M Set Aside For Tax Shortfall

Council previously authorized the township to borrow up to $53 million for this purpose, and officials said the $10 million was borrowed due to uncertainty surrounding state aid. Read more here: Coronavirus May Cause Tax Shortfall; Gloucester Twp. Has $53M Cushion

The biggest chunk of the bond ordinance introduced Monday night is funding to upgrade computer equipment for multiple township departments, officials said.

According to officials, about $200,000 of that funding goes toward computer upgrades.

“There were some towns where their whole system got infected,” Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said. “We had the state come in and do an audit of our system, and this is what they recommended.”

Business Administrator Tom Cardis called the upgrades necessary, as the township is still using Windows 2007.

After the computers, the township will spend about $157,000 on brand tasers, $64,000 to upgrade dispatch services and $30,000 on miscellaneous equipment.

Replacements are being made under an $800,000 contract the township has with the state that covers tasers, body-worn cameras and in-car cameras. The township. Each piece of equipment has a period of usefulness of five years, and they are currently in their fifth year.

Harkins said that when tasers break, they are replaced immediately under the program. All officers carry tasers, and they are tested on every shift, and their cameras are reviewed regularly, including in every use-of-force case and internal complaint, Harkins said.

Monday’s proposed bond ordinance was approved on introduction with a 5-0 vote. Gloucester Township Council will next meet on Sept. 28.