The police departments in Scotch Plains and Fanwood will participate in a county-funded body camera program for its patrol officers. The implementation of the program will begin at the end of October.
35 officers will be wearing the 3.5 ounces of technology during their patrols. The program is Union County’s largest county-funded program of its kind. Described as ‘policing in the modern world,’ the cameras will provide an objective perspective in the case of a dispute between officer and citizen.
There is a correlation between the use of recording devices such as body cameras and the level in citizen complaints. “We’ve seen in a lot of areas that were studied, there’s
been a decrease in use-of-force incidents and a comparable decrease in citizen complaints,” said by Chief of Police, Brian T. Mahoney. Chief Mahoney has been working at the police department for 30 years and has been chief since 2005. Mahoney reasons that when both citizen and officer are aware they are being recorded, then there is more positive interaction. “What’s been found around the country is the implementation of body camera programs like this, we find that it leads to greater accountability and transparency interaction with the public.”