Edison, the state's fifth-largest municipality, will be the largest department in the area to outfit its force with the recording equipment.
EDISON -- The township will soon deploy body cameras, stun guns and new dashboard cams to its police force as part of a two-year, $365,000 deal, officials announced Monday.
Edison, the state's fifth-largest municipality, will be the largest department in the area to outfit its force with the recording equipment. The new video tech will roll out the first week of March.
Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan wearing a new Taser brand body camera "Acquiring these technologies helps fulfill my administration's commitment to fortify public safety, to increase our police department's professionalism and accountability, and to strengthen public confidence in our dedicated police officers," Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey said in a release.
The deal with Arizona-based Taser International Inc. will equip 125 uniformed officers with body-worn cameras and Tasers and outfit 60 patrol cars with new dashboard cameras. Edison has a total police force of about 186 officers.
"Body-worn and dashboard cameras have become a vital crime fighting tool. They enhance our evidence-gathering ability in criminal and accident investigations and prosecutions," said Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan. "The benefits to our police department and to the people we serve are enormous."
Over the last decade, the department has outfitted its patrol cars with other brands of cameras, but the new Taser brand equipment will record video in the same format on uniformed officers and in patrol cars. The contract also covers two years of data storage for the videos.
Edison received $62,500 in federal grants through the state Attorney General's Office to offset the cost of the purchases. The remaining balance was approved to be paid through the capital improvement fund.
More than half of New Jersey's 500 law enforcement agencies have been equipped with the video recording gear, many of which were purchased with similar grants.
What would it cost to put a camera on every cop?
In Middlesex, only the Rutgers University and Highland Park police departments have the video technology for all of their officers.
North Brunswick and Perth Amboy were both on the list of grant recipients earlier this month for funds from the attorney general to purchase the equipment. North Brunswick said it will roll out the cameras this summer. No word yet on Perth Amboy's timeline.
Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig and on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook.