PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey police officers will soon be required to wear body cameras, under a bill signed by Gov. Phil Murphy.
"This is not a panacea but it will go a long ways in terms of serving as a linchpin in bridging the gap of trust and confidence that exists in our Black and brown communities," said Mercer County State Sen. Shirley Turner, who sponsored the bill.
"Over the last several years we have seen far too many horrific and heartbreaking police-involved shootings and deaths. And while body cameras cannot prevent them, they will help to increase their transparency and accountability," she said at Tuesday's virtual signing ceremony.
Murphy also signed a companion measure that permits police to turn off the cameras inside schools, hospitals and churches. That bill requires that footage of arrests and use of force be kept for three years.
Murphy vetoed the bills earlier this year, saying the legislature needed to provide funding for the cameras. A bill currently awaiting a vote in the legislature would provide $58 million for police departments to pay for equipment and digital storage. Turner said having body cameras may save the state money in the long run, by reducing the number of lawsuits over the use of excessive force.
"These devices not only protect our citizens but they also protect police officers who may be facing erroneous complaints and charges despite the fact that they are doing the right thing," she said. "When everyone is on camera everyone is on their best behavior."
The bills would take effect in June.
About 45% of New Jersey's police departments use body-worn cameras, according to the state attorney general.