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New Jersey State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police

July 29, 2015
 

New Jersey State Fraternal Order of Police Criticizes State Attorney General's Office Over Issuance of Body Camera Police

Brothers and Sisters
:

Below is my press release today concerning the Attorney General's new body camera regulations. 

(July 29) Today, the President of the New State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), Robert W. Fox, criticized the Attorney General's Office regarding the issuance of new body camera regulations for police officers. According to President Fox, "the issue is not the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers--which I support--but the manner in which the policy was developed and presented and the specifics of the new policy. The FOP, as the largest national police union in the nation with approximately 300,000 members, including 13,000 members in New Jersey, has access to resources on the use of body cameras in every state in which they are utilized that could have proven valuable to the Attorney General on this matter." Fox stated "the National FOP has an existing policy regarding how body cameras should be used based on experience throughout the country which the Attorney General's office ignored."
 
Fox continued that he was asked by the Attorney General's office the day of the announcement of the new body camera policy, Monday, July 27th., to stand with the Attorney General at the announcement in support of the new policy even though the FOP never saw the policy until that day, and worse, the FOP had to ask for a copy of the policy.
 
 According to Fox, " I declined to attend the press conference and sign off on the new policy as we had not had the opportunity to review it to see how it balances the rights of New Jersey residents with safeguards for police officers who will wear body cameras." Now that the FOP has reviewed the new policy, Fox believes" it is too technical and will be difficult to train officers if a jurisdiction adopts the policy. If a policed officer is improperly trained, and is charged with violating policy, will he face disciplinary charges for improper training? This is not fair for law enforcement officers."
 
Additionally, Fox stated that " I am surprised that the Attorney general acted on this matter so quickly when he should know there is legislation making its way through the State Legislature (Senate Bill No. 2649) which passed in the Senate and is awaiting action in the Assembly." According to Fox, "Senate Bill No. 2649 presents a more thorough approach to developing a body camera policy by bringing all concerned parties to the table to develop proper guidelines in their use and in a more deliberate manner. For the good of the public and all law enforcement officers, the Attorney General should rescind the policy and call for the legislature to pass the study commission bill."
 
 
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Robert W. Fox
State FOP President