Morristown police to begin wearing body cameras

MORRISTOWN, N.J. (AP) -- Police in one northern New Jersey town are set to begin wearing body cameras.

Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty and Police Chief Peter Demnitz announced Tuesday that front-line uniformed police officers will begin using the cameras this week.

Dougherty said the cameras can help improve relations between police and the community and provide a factual account of interactions.

He said the town has been looking at using body cameras since 2012. But attending a roundtable event for urban mayors last September -- sponsored by the mayors of Newark, Jersey City and Paterson -- made Dougherty realize the cameras were a good fit.

Morristown's police department bought 40 of the cameras. They are integrated with existing video systems that are already in marked patrol cars.

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