Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose formally announced today that all Newark Police Officers and all marked police cruiser will be equipped cameras by 2018.
Director Ambrose said that the acquisition of cameras is a necessary investment that will have a positive impact on building and restoring public trust.
The public will have more confidence and trust in the police knowing that their encounters with the police are being recorded.
By recording police-citizen encounters, a permanent and accurate account of what transpired is memorialized.
An added benefit in the use of cameras is the ability to identify officer deficiencies and training needs before they result in costly lawsuits.
Ambrose said because the video footage will be reviewed on a regular basis, officers in need of training or intervention can be identified so that corrective action can be implemented by the department.
Police officer accountability and performance will increase with officers knowing that their actions are being recorded. Cameras provide the unique perspective from the officers’ point of view establishing the who, what when, where and why.
Another added benefit comes from the fact that cameras are useful tools to documents evidence and assisting in preventing and resolving complaints brought by members of the public.
Ambrose said, each officer will have their own camera. It will become part of their equipment and like other department issued equipment, guns, badges and radios.
Each officer will be held strictly accountable for reporting to work with a fully charged and properly functioning camera.
The data contained in the officer’s cameras will automatically download into a secure server.
Ambrose said a $382,000 grant is assisting us with the purchase of the cameras. "I look forward to 2018 when the cars and the officers will utilize this technology. This is a win, win situation for the public, department and officers".