MAPLEWOOD POLICE RECEIVE FUNDING FOR 45 BODYCAMS

Maplewood Police will receive a $22,300 state grant to purchase 45 body-worn cameras for officers under a new grant announced Monday.

The State Attorney General's Office announced the funding in a press release that stated, in part:

Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman today announced $2.5 million in awards for 176 police departments across New Jersey to buy body-worn cameras for their officers. The awards – made with criminal forfeiture funds – will support purchases of more than 5,000 body cameras and will put New Jersey in the forefront in the U.S in embracing this technology to promote transparency, mutual accountability, and trust between police and the community. 

Acting Attorney General Hoffman announced the availability of the $2.5 million on July 28 and invited police agencies to apply for the funds through the county prosecutors. Today, he announced the specific awards by agency. Most of the agencies received funding for all of the body cameras they requested. A full list of the awards by agency is posted with this press release at www.njpublicsafety.com.

Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino issued the following statement on the new gadgets:

"I'm very pleased to learn that the Maplewood Police Department was successful in
the grant process and that our department is receiving funding for Body Worn Cameras
through the New Jersey Body Worn Camera Assistance Program. The implementation of
our Body Worn Camera Program is expected to increase officer's safety and to further
validate the professionalism that officers exhibit as they serve and protect the
community, so we look forward to moving ahead with the program."

See which Essex County departments received funding and how much below: