Sparta PD now using body worn cameras

SPARTA – The township police department began using body-worn cameras on Friday, becoming the first in Sussex County and one of the few in New Jersey.

Six of the cameras were purchased by the department at a cost of $450 per unit and officers have been trained in their use over the last several weeks, according to a news release from the department, which said that six more have been ordered..

Earlier this year, Morristown became the first department in the state to fully outfit its department with body-worn cameras. Their use was put on hold, however, because they had not sought approval from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office before using them, according to Tom Zelante, a spokesman for the prosecutor.

Boonton and Rockaway also are seeking to use the cameras and the prosecutor's office is reviewing their applications, Zelante said.

The cameras are manufactured and serviced by Boonton-based L3 Mobile-Vision, which is the same company that installed and maintains the eight Mobile Video Recorders in the Sparta’s marked patrol vehicles, the release said.

The L3 Body Worn Camera is a wireless device, which houses a video camera, audio/video recording hardware and a port for charging the device and downloading events.

The news release said that the command staff of the Sparta Police Department adopted the use of the body worn cameras to accomplish several objectives:

•BWC’s allow for accurate documentation of police-public contacts, arrests and critical incidents. They also serve to enhance the accuracy of police reports and testimony in court.

•Audio and video recordings enhance the department’s ability to review probable cause for arrests, officer and suspect interaction and evidence for investigative and prosecutorial purposes and to provide additional information for officer evaluation and training.

•The BWC also may be helpful in documenting crime and accident scenes or other events that include confiscation and documentation of evidence or contraband.