Gov. Murphy Vetoes NJ Police Body Cam Bill: ‘Insufficient Funds’

NEW JERSEY — Gov. Phil Murphy conditionally vetoed a bill on Monday that would have required every state, county and municipal police officer in New Jersey to wear a body camera on duty.

The bill would have allowed for some exemptions, including undercover assignments, administrative work and meeting with confidential informants. Read the full text of S-1163/A-4271.

According to Murphy, the planned funding source – police forfeiture funds seized in connection with criminal activity – is “insufficient.”

The governor offered more details about his reasons for conditionally vetoing the bill in a statement on Monday. He wrote:

“As recently as August 2020, the forfeiture fund account identified in this legislation to fund this endeavor contained less than $2 million, with more than $1 million already earmarked for worthwhile programs, leaving under $1 million to cover the costs of body worn cameras. Additionally, recent changes to the forfeiture laws to promote fairness to property owners will further limit the funds that may be available from the source moving forward. The Department of Law and Public Safety estimates that initial deployment of nearly 26,000 cameras could cost up to $55.8 million.”

That estimate includes equipment acquisition, an annual licensing fee, and maintenance and storage. Even after acquisition, ongoing maintenance and storage costs would be incurred, Murphy said.

There are more than 35,000 local, county and state law enforcement officers on the job in New Jersey, Murphy said.

Murphy returned the bill to state legislators with a recommendation to find a “more reliable funding source,” adding a statement of support for its general mission and goals.

He wrote:

“I commend the sponsors of this legislation for recognizing the beneficial value offered by widespread use of body worn cameras by law enforcement officers. I share the sponsors’ goal of promoting transparency and accountability in policing in our communities. Body worn cameras are a wise public investment, as the benefits of their use are manifest: they improve accountability; promote transparency; enhance the quality of police-civilian interactions and law enforcement performance; contemporaneously record objective, impartial evidence for use in investigations, disciplinary matters, and court proceedings; and provide a useful tool for officer training and development.”

A recent Office of the Attorney General survey among police departments in New Jersey showed that as of September, there are 12,195 body worn cameras being utilized among 239 agencies across the state (see a county-by-county report here).

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