West Orange Police Will Roll Out Body Cameras This Autumn

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Starting this autumn, when West Orange residents encounter a municipal police officer on patrol, he or she will be wearing a body camera.

Township officials announced Thursday that beginning Oct. 1, the West Orange Police Department will roll out its body-worn cameras initiative in an effort to “become more transparent to the public.”

“Patrol personnel will be required to wear one while they are on duty,” township officials stated. “Between six to 10 officers will be equipped with the cameras per shift.”

Last year, the WOPD received $30,000 in grant money to purchase 60 body cameras for its officers. The funding was part of $2.5 million for 176 police departments statewide for more than 5,000 body worn cameras.

• See related article: West Orange Police Get $30K For Body Cameras From State Grant

“We clearly are leading the nation when it comes to our efforts in New Jersey to deploy body-worn cameras to promote transparency and mutual accountability of police and civilians,” Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said at the time. “The overwhelming response we received from law enforcement to our offer of funding demonstrates that police officers are embracing this technology to protect themselves, assist them in their work, and foster stronger police-community relations.”

The Attorney General’s Directive on Body Cameras can be seen here.

The West Orange Police Department has previously equipped its police cars with mobile video cameras to record traffic stops in an effort to “provide safety and training” to officers, according to the municipal website.

File Photo: Getty Images

Sign up for Patch NJ email newsletters here.