Cedar Grove, Verona Cops Get Body Camera Grants

CEDAR GROVE, NJ — The Cedar Grove and Verona Police Departments are among 37 New Jersey law enforcement agencies to get state funding to buy its officers body cameras.

Verona, Cedar Grove and Nutley are among the Essex County towns that will receive funding as part of a $566,000 grant from the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

The program is an effort to “buy officers body cameras to promote transparency, mutual accountability, and trust between police and the community,” according to Attorney General Christopher Porrino.

The round of grants utilizes funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (“JAG”) Program. Agencies can use up to $500 in grant funds for each camera or camera package, including camera and related equipment, officials said.

Nutley, Verona and Cedar Grove each received $15,000, which can support 30 body cameras for each department, NorthJersey.com reported.

Cedar Grove Lieutenant Joseph Cirasa told Patch that the department doesn’t know exactly when its officers might actually begin using the cameras on duty, but estimated that it might happen “sometime in 2017.”

“We’re rapidly reaching the tipping point where a majority of the police departments in New Jersey will have body cameras, and the remaining departments are likely to follow suit,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Police departments recognize that these devices are powerful tools for promoting mutual accountability and trust between police and the communities they serve.”

• See related article: Essex County Cops Strap On Body Cameras
• See related article: Newark Police Among NJ Cities To Get Body Camera Funding From Feds

File Photo: Getty Images

Send local news tips, photos and press releases to eric.kiefer@patch.com