Body Cameras Coming to Delran Police

The Delran Township Police Department will soon be implementing body cameras to its already advanced remote camera technology to ensure a transparent police department.

In addition to our in-car video cameras in every front line patrol vehicle, the Delran Police Department will be equipping each patrol officer with a Body Worn Camera System.

The Delran Township Police Department has always been progressive when it comes to camera technology. We were the first department in the County and maybe even the State to introduce the in-car camera system which at the time was cutting edge "Beta-Formatted" technology. We soon progressed to a VHS video system that was purchased from Mobile Vision. This technology has also been upgraded over the years to a wireless downloadable format which was also provided by Mobile Vision which is now L-3 Mobile Vision, Inc.

The Body Worn Camera technology will enhance our officer safety, reduce liability, assist with prosecution and case resolution, and further promote professionalism and accountability.

The Body Vision XV body camera is a rugged, reliable on-officer camera, designed for simple use and top performance. A 110-degree field of view, multiple on-body mounting options, along with a single button that allows for digital recording of evidence. The video will be transferred to  our on-site, server-based system that is secure from outside tampering and will be able to grow with our agencies needs. The end-user cannot tamper with the video stored on the server or with the Body Vision XV video camera. The body cam maintains chain-of-custody integrity with digitally signed video data. The camera records up to a 90-second loop, so when an officer activates the device while interacting with the public, images of what occurred immediately prior to the contact will be available.

In 2015, the Delran Police investigated more than 23,651 patrol activities including calls for service and motor vehicle stops. In our current society almost every citizen has a video capable smart-phone and it's imperative that we capture events from the beginning of our police encounter until the end. The cameras will play a large part in reducing litigation while increasing officer efficiency. The cameras will protect our agency from frivolous allegations and allow us to capture the events in real-time as they unfold and prevent expensive and time-consuming lawsuits.

The Body Worn Camera System cost approximately $27,000.00 for 30 officers. The money was acquired through a 5-year capital improvement plan and a grant through the N.J. Attorney General's Office which paid for approximately $14,000.00 dollars of the cost of the cameras.