Ridgewood Police Latest In NJ To Institute Body Cameras

RIDGEWOOD, NJ — The Ridgewood Police Department is the latest in New Jersey to implement body cameras for law enforcement officers.

Ridgewood police announced the move on Nov. 4, stating that they were among the "growing ranks of law enforcement agencies who are implementing body worn cameras (BWC)."

The cameras will be used in accordance with the guidelines established by the New Jersey Attorney General and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office directive, the department said.

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On May 25, then New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal released that directive, which mandates all uniformed patrol officers to wear a BWC. Police accountability was paramount among the reasons why.

"In fact, there is consistent public demand for the release of BWC footage in the wake of critical incidents involving police use of force," the directive read.

"This footage provides objective evidence of what occurred and plays a crucial role in the public discourse around police accountability. BWCs also serve as a powerful deterrent to misconduct by both the police and members of the public interacting with police."

Ridgewood Police had a few moments of physical interactions with protesters after the murder of George Floyd, prompting public outrage and heightened tensions with activists in the community.

The department hopes that the implementation of body cameras will "continue to build a positive relationship will all of our residents and those visiting and working in the Village," they said.

With the directive now being implemented in Ridgewood, citizens who interact with police may be recorded.

"The BWC will be mounted on an officer’s shirt, vest, or outmost garment and will point away from the officer in order to capture whatever is in the camera’s view," the department said.

As positive public perception of BWCs continued to climb, Ridgewood wasn't alone in declining to utilize them among Bergen County departments.

According to a 2020 survey conducted by the Office of the Attorney General, just 17 of 71 law enforcement agencies in the county utilized BWCs, a mark of 23 percent.

Costs played a part in the delay to outfit police officers with body cameras — the original deadline was June 1. Grant money made it possible for many departments to meet the mandate.

According to NorthJersey.com, state grants paid for 28,000 cameras for 487 agencies, including over $5.1 million to buy roughly 2,500 cameras for departments in Bergen County.