“We are grateful to the State for this grant. The body-worn camera technology will promote transparency, mutual accountability, and trust between police and the community, said Mayor Peter Cantu.

The Attorney General issued a statewide policy in July 2015 designed to promote best practices and uniformity in using the devices. The new policy – which guides police departments statewide that decide to deploy body cameras – establishes foundational requirements while allowing individual police departments to tailor policies to local needs.

The state’s $2.5 million in grant awards will support purchases of more than 5,000 body cameras for 176 police departments across New Jersey.