Cranbury, Monroe officers will go to the videotape
John Saccwnti
Drivers traveling through Cranbury and Monroe may want to say “cheese” the next time they’re pulled over by police.
That’s because local police departments soon will have cameras and microphones as part of their regular complement of equipment, and will videotape all traffic stops made in the area.
The Monroe Police Department has had three patrol cars fitted with the cameras since August 1999 and plans to increase that amount until the entire fleet has them.
The Cranbury Police Department expects to have video cameras installed in every police car by May.
The Jamesburg Police Department is planning to install the cameras in squad cars in 2001.
Cranbury Police Chief Harry Kleinkauf said the cameras will be used to help the department work more efficiently, and to provide evidence should a driver claim a police officer did something wrong.
“I’m excited about it because it certainly tells the story about what actually transpires during a stop,” said Chief Kleinkauf. “Upon review of the tapes, we’ll see where training is needed, or if an officer makes a mistake, it can be corrected. The big thing is to eliminate any doubt as to what happened on a traffic stop.”
The Cranbury Township Committee has included $15,180 in the 2000 municipal budget to purchase the cameras and microphones, which will be worn by officers while on patrol.
Chief Kleinkauf said the installation of video cameras and microphones should not be taken as a sign that his police officers are doing something wrong while on patrol.
“I think it’s a good idea,” said Cranbury Mayor Alan Danser. “I’m absolutely confident that our officers are doing everything in an absolutely appropriate manner. But with some of the charges being leveled at police officers throughout the country I thought it a good idea.”
While he has not decided how long the video tapes and audio recordings will be kept on file, Chief Kleinkauf did say they may be reviewed from time to time by himself, Capt. Jay Hansen or Lt. Bill Maxwell.
Monroe Police Lt. Tony Cook said that reviewing the tapes already has helped Monroe in the continued training of its police officers. The department does periodic reviews of the tapes and sits down with its officers to analyze them
“We can point out things he doesn’t even realize he’s doing wrong and correct them,” said Lt. Cook.
Chief Kleinkauf, Jamesburg Chief David Lester and Lt. Cook all say that documentation of traffic stops also could be used as evidence to defend police officers from frivolous lawsuits filed by drivers. The cameras also could improve safety.
“They’re good for training and help protect the department from liability and false claims,” said Chief Lester. “God forbid there’s an altercation where an officer is killed in the line of duty. The tape could provide evidence needed to get the individual so he doesn’t harm or endanger other people.”
Monroe has not needed to use the videotapes as evidence during court proceedings. However, Lt. Cook said that recording events, actions and statements made during a traffic stop is invaluable.
“The first perception is that Big Brother’s watching you,” said Lt. Cook. “But as you use them, you find out they’re more valuable for law enforcement as a tool. I don’t think they’re will be too many departments without them. I’m sure that Cranbury is going to find out the same thing we did — they help us more than they hurt us.”
Cranbury police officers also will be able to record what a driver is doing before a traffic stop, which will be helpful when dealing with drunk and careless drivers.
According to Chief Kleinkauf, the cameras will hang from the ceilings of patrol cars, near the rear-view mirror, and can be activated manually or will go on automatically when a car’s emergency lights go on. Officers will wear microphones on their ties to provide audio documentation of a traffic stop.
“It’s a win-win situation all the way around. This would eliminate any doubt as to what took place out there,” said Chief Kleinkauf. “Perhaps there will be more caution out there. It could make the officers more careful.”
Lt. Cook said that the cameras may make officers nervous at first, but eventually they get used to them.
“If anything else, they forget it’s there and start to just do the job. For the first few weeks, it was on they’re mind. But once we’ve been using them, it becomes just another piece of equipment and we almost forget it’s there.”