Westfield Officers Piloting Body Camera Program

WESTFIELD, NJ - If Police Chief Christopher Battiloro has his way, all uniformed officers in the Westfield Police Department will be equipped with body cameras early in 2019. But for right now, select officers are participating in a pilot program,

The Westfield Police Department started a trial and training period of body worn cameras (BWC) Dec. 18 where three officers will be selected during the day shift and three officers during the night shift to wear the BWCs.

But according to Battiloro, this is only the beginning.

“I am pleased to announce the Westfield Police Department is seeking to equip all of its uniformed officers and supervisors with body worn cameras in the very near future," Battiloro said. "I believe they are essential to accountability and transparency.”

The plan is to conclude the trial period in February 2019 and implement BWCs for all uniformed officers afterwards, Battiloro said.

Many law enforcement agencies have seen the benefit of equipping their officers with cameras and the benefits included:

• Increased public confidence in local and national policing
• A reduction in the number of complaints and allegations made against police officers
• Reduced criminal justice costs due to an increase in early guilty pleas
• De-escalation of anti-social behaviour
• A reduction in the number of assaults on police officers
• Ability to deploy BWV in areas not covered by other forms of CCTV
• Officer skill enhancement through the review of performance at incidents

The most famous study on body-worn cameras, a field experiment conducted by the Rialto, Calif., Police Department found that when police were equipped with cameras during the test period, use of force incidents and citizen complaints against officers were reduced by 50 and 90 percent respectively.

Battiloro said that he believed his officers conduct would be exemplary and the department would soon have video to prove it.

"I am certain body worn cameras will simply reaffirm that our officers are conducting themselves in a positive, professional manner,” Battiloro said.

(Photo courtesy of the Town of Westfield)

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