Police Body Cameras Expected to Add Trust, Transparency

Ninety-two new police body cameras are expected to increase community trust in law enforcement here and save money in investigations, Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace Park and Plainfield Police Director Carl Riley told about 100 attendees at a program Wednesday that included a video simulating the camera's use in a motor vehicle stop.

Park cited a 40 to 90 percent reduction in citizen complaints in 10 communities that began using the cameras and said their use can reduce both the length and cost of investigations. Eight Union County police agencies have agreed to share $750,000 in forfeiture funds for cameras and one year of data storage. The municipalities will then fund future years, Plainfield's commitment being for five years as previously reported.

Riley called the body cameras "a great enhancement" to law enforcement and said he expects the program to be in place by January 2016, along with 30 citywide surveillance cameras and a new GPS system in patrol cars. The body cameras will add "evidentiary value" to investigations and help to bring about "positive engagement with citizens," he said.

Thomas Koundry, chief of staff in Park's office, demonstrated the use of the cameras and showed a video of  what the camera recorded in a simulated traffic stop. Back at the police station, docked cameras are automatically downloaded and images are stored in duplicate east and west coast clouds for security in case of disaster. The body cameras are activated for service calls but sensitive images such as those of children or prisoners in hospitals have restrictions on access.

A phalanx of police personnel looked on as presenters explained the program and answered residents' questions. Included were Captains Steve Soltys and Brian Newman, Lts. Kevin O'Brien, Ken Reid, Troy Edwards and Jeffrey Plum, Sgts. Christopher Sylvester, Scott Gwinn and Larry Brown, PBA President Andre Crawford.

Among questions from the audience, one person asked whether the camera would really be on and whether a willful violation of the procedure would go to the prosecutor's office. Riley said an officer will be polite and professional, but will not get engaged in a conversation about whether the camera is on or off. Another person asked how long the videos will be saved. Park said 90 days, or longer if a civil complaint is filed. In the case of a criminal investigation, videos will be saved through the duration to an appeal.

Videos taken at night will not include infrared imaging, but will be like what the human eye would see, Koundry said in answer to another question.

"OIS" is Officer-Involved Shooting and "SRT" is Shooting Response Team

The program included slides on the legal process, from investigations of incidents through grand jury findings and further action, emphasizing the roles and relationships of local, county and state law enforcement officials. Community outreach on use of force was mandated in a July directive from the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

Part of the body camera program is a study of its effects over time in achieving the goals of greater community trust and transparency as well as its benefits for law enforcement. Assemblyman Jerry Green, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and Freeholder Linda Carter all expressed high hopes for the program. Speaking of trust, Green said, "As human beings, we owe it to each other," while Carter called the program "a positive step in a very challenging environment." Mapp called the program an opportunity to bring the community together in the face of recent incidents and "just another step" in enhancing trust.

--Bernice