By Emily Laermer, Staff Writer
The West Windsor Police Department will be replacing its current mobile video system that ran through VHS tapes with a more up-to-date digital version.
The police department has had the video system since 1999 when the state passed a law requiring all police cars to be equipped with recording cameras. The new system will allow the officers to download their footage from anywhere within the station antenna’s reception area.
”Before these tapes we could only go off of credentials from the police and certificates they filed,” Lt. Frank Caponi said. “There was nothing for us to show besides (audio) tapes from when the police called in.”
With the current video tapes as well as the new digital system, however, the police are able to record anything, from motor vehicle stops to drunk driving arrests to domestic disputes. The system is triggered when the emergency lights are turned on, Lt. Caponi said.
”It’s all on tape now – from beginning to end,” he said. “It can continue to tape all the behavior until the person gets taken out of the police car. It all becomes part of the evidence.”
This evidence can be used both back at the station to re-examine the case and in court. The officers can make copies of the tape to give to attorneys.
”It’s like a store’s surveillance camera,” Lt. Caponi said. “If a person committed a crime that wasn’t reported but there is evidence of it on film we can make the additional charge.”
The system includes a camera and microphone in the car and an additional wireless microphone attached to the police officer.
In addition to being able to hear what the person who is pulled over says, the external microphones can help keep the police officers in check.
”It makes sure the officer is doing his job and being polite about it,” Lt. Caponi said. “If someone says that he is being rude or nasty, we can bring it up on tape.”
The officers are required to turn in their footage for all cases. The current system uses six-hour-long tapes, but because the new system will be digital, the footage will automatically be turned in once the car reaches the reception area.
”It’s less handling for the officers,” Lt. Caponi said.
Although the new system will only be added to four of the station’s 20 cars this year because of the high cost, Lt. Caponi hopes that they will be able to add additional four next year. Although the department has 20 cars, approximately 15 are used on a typical day.
”We are fortunate enough to change the system, but we are doing it baby steps,” Lt. Caponi said. “It helps tremendously to have this stuff recorded.”
