Body Cam Footage Shows Excellence In Policing: South Brunswick PD

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — Last November, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that required every uniformed patrol officer in the state to be outfitted with a body-worn camera while on duty.

Officers from the South Brunswick Police Department have been wearing the cameras and the department also received a $205,838 grant to purchase body-worn cameras in June this year.

The Police department on Monday released footage from a rookie officer’s body-worn camera, that highlights the department’s work in building relationships in the community.

In September, Rookie Officer Garret Byrne was on routine patrol when he saw a visually impaired 63-year-old man walking on the highway of Route 27. Byrne pulled his vehicle over and spoke with the man, who told him he was attempting to reach the nearby Walgreens to get his prescription medication.

Byrne guided the man into his patrol car and gave him a ride to the pharmacy. The officer waited with him to get his medication and then provided the man a ride back home.

Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said that body-worn cameras show “everyday excellence” in policing.

“There will be no statistic from this case that will highlight the excellent work of this officer. Officer Byrne maybe a rookie, but he knows the importance of helping people and building relationships,” Hayducka said.

“I have viewed numerous BWC videos that show the everyday excellence of police officers. This video doesn’t highlight some high-speed chase or dramatic crime in progress. It shows at the core of what we do, helping people every day.”

On May 25, then-Attorney General Gurbir Grewal issued a directive that set the foundation for the proper use of body-worn cameras throughout the state. In addition to uniformed patrol officers, a broad range of officers engaged in additional functions should also be equipped with body cameras. This includes officers assigned to tactical teams, proactive enforcement teams, canine units, or duties involving regular interaction with the public.

The policy seeks to further strengthen transparency and public trust by recording a wider range of police-citizen encounters, particularly those with a greater likelihood to result in a use-of-force or internal affairs complaint, officials said.

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