Moorestown Police Officers to be Equipped With Body Cameras Soon

Moorestown, NJ -- Moorestown Police Officers will be equipped with body worn cameras in the next few weeks, police announced on Thursday.

“Building on our department's emphasis on transparency and accountability, the cameras will provide important evidence if an officer's actions are improper as well as provide protection for our officers against false complaints,” police said in a statement. “The deployment of the body worn cameras has shown to de-escalate encounters between officers and members of the public.”

They will be deployed under guidelines set by the state Attorney General’s Office last year.

Moorestown used a grant to offset 40 percent of the cost associated with the cameras.

Each officer will be equipped with a body camera, according to Acting Police Chief Lee Lieber said. Cameras will be used in most circumstances, outside of certain situations, including substance abuse, when at school when children are present or in places of worship.

“They’re to protect the resident and the officer,” Lieber said. “The officer will more likely want them to be on than off.”

The initiative is the latest in the police department’s efforts at greater transparency. Others include the use of social media, the annual Internal Affairs report and participation in crimereports.com.

The attached images were provided by Moorestown Police