550 Union County Cops To Be Equipped With Body Cameras

ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- More than half of Union County's population will soon be policed by officers wearing body cameras.

The county prosecutor's office is using forfeiture funds to provide 550 cameras to eight municipalities, WCBS 880's Jim Smith reported.

Acting Prosecutor Grace Park said cameras serve to boost public confidence.

"They promote professionalism and civility by creating a record of precisely what was said, what was done," Park said.

She also said cameras cut time and money from lawsuits and internal investigations.

"Bottom line is that it's a videotape record of what happend," Park said.

The state's fourth-largest city, Elizabeth, is included in the program.

A camera "enhances community relations. It strengthens our legitimacy and transparency," said James Cosgrove, Elizabeth's police director.

The cameras will be rolled out later this month.