Jersey City police body camera program still in trial period

Controversy surrounding the high-speed police pursuit through the streets of Jersey City on June 4 escalated after video surfaced showing cops kicking a man who later turned out to be an innocent bystander.

That video came from an eyewitness to the pursuit, not from body cameras worn by the officers. That's because nearly three years after Mayor Steve Fulop first announced he was working with Newark and Paterson on a plan to outfit the three cities' cops with body cameras, Jersey City's system has yet to move beyond a trial phase.

Public Safety Director James Shea said yesterday he doesn't believe body cameras would have changed anything about the pursuit or the altercation captured on video.

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... _program_still_in_tr.html

State awards $2.5 million for body cameras to 176 New Jersey police departments

PATERSON TIMES  -  by Jonathan Greene

176 police departments across New Jersey received $2.5 million in funding to purchase body-worn cameras for their officers, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

Elizabeth, Jersey City, and Edison received the most funding for body cameras because they made requests that were much larger than those made by other municipalities. Elizabeth received $125,000, Jersey City $100,000, and Edison $62,500, according to the state.

Elizabeth requested and received funding for 250 body cameras. Jersey City made request for 200 cameras and received it as well. Edison wanted and got 125 cameras.

Paterson received $10,000 to purchase 20 cameras that it requested.

“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,” said Acting Attorney General John Hoffman said Monday. “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.”

Read more:  http://patersontimes.com/2015/12/21/s ... ersey-police-departments/

Jersey City Council approves $1.2M contract for police body cameras

By Caitlin Mota | The Jersey Journal The Jersey Journal
August 20, 2015 at  3:57 PM

JERSEY CITY -- The City Council has approved a $1.2 million contract that will outfit the city's police force with body cameras.

All but one council member -- Richard Boggiano of Ward C -- voted during last night's meeting in favor of the resolution, which awarded the contract for a maximum of 1,200 body cameras to the Philadelphia-based company Mobile Video System.

While one hurdle was passed last night, Jersey City spokesman Ryan Jacobs noted that the city is still in the planning phase as part of federal guidelines.

Read more:  http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/20 ... ody_cam.html#incart_river

New Jersey Police to Get Body Cameras

Some 1,000 troopers will be equipped with the devices

By    Heather Haddon

3 largest New Jersey cities pushing ahead with plans to outfit police with body cameras

JERSEY CITY, New Jersey — New Jersey's three largest cities are moving ahead with plans to outfit their police officers with body cameras, possibly as early as this fall.

The mayors of Newark, Jersey City and Paterson announced Friday that they have issued requests for proposals from vendors that are due back by May 14.

Last summer Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and Paterson Mayor Jose Torres said they would collaborate on numerous public safety issues, including the purchasing of equipment in order to save money. The state Department of Community Affairs approved the joint purchasing plan in December which allows the cities to buy the cameras.

Jersey City Police Director James Shea said the city is in the process of formulating guidelines, in conjunction with the state attorney general's office, regarding when and how the cameras can be used and what footage can be saved. Shea said a primary issue is the cost of storing footage shot by the cameras.

"The bottom line is we know it's a good policy, we know citizens feel good about them and that it makes them feel good when police officers are using them," he said. "It's pretty much a win-win, the only question is how we're going to pay for it."

Since the announcement of the three cities' partnership last July, they have already embarked on public safety strategies such as police intelligence sharing.