Jersey City Council to vote on $2.3m for police body cameras, $515,000 for comfortable uniforms

The Jersey City City Council is expected to approve several funding resolutions for the Department of Public Safety on Wednesday night, including one providing $2.3 million for new body cameras.

The resolution calls for the purchase of 1,120 police cameras, along with a five-year service plan for a total of $2,277,878. Another resolution calls for the purchase from Tomahawk Strategic Solutions of 800 police uniforms at a cost of $515,200, or $644 per uniform.

In all, 13 resolutions request funding for Department of Public Safety programs and services. Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said all of the items listed in the resolutions were funded by grants, as well as by city officials and the resolutions did not identify the grants or the amount. .

She said the items — including maintenance, body cameras and uniforms — are necessary for the police department to operate and meet state and federal guidelines.

The $2.3 million for body cameras includes chargers, upgrades, and maintenance. According to state law, police officers must wear body cameras. The resolution calls for more body cameras than Jersey City has police officers (about 1,000). As for body cameras,

During Monday’s city council caucus, Police Superintendent Tawana Moody said the police department wanted to make sure “we keep enough body cameras on all officers.”

Wallace-Scalcione said a top request from police officers last year in open discussions with Moody’s was for a uniform that was “more durable and practical for the job they do.”

Currently, police officers wear a Class A uniform, which is considered more formal, but has been used for everyday use. Officers will change to a Class B uniform.

According to police uniform company, Blauer, Class B uniforms are a more casual style with a relaxed fit and “are often used interchangeably with the Class A uniform for everyday work.” The company’s website states that Class B uniforms “are made from relatively cheaper and lighter fabrics like polyester or polyester blends that hold their shape and last a long time.”

Moody’s told City Council on Monday that this is a one-time purchase for uniforms, as officers receive a uniform allowance. Wallace-Scalcione said federal funds were approved to purchase each officer’s initial Class B uniform.

“After that, each officer is responsible for their own uniforms,” ​​Moody told the city council. “There are definitely savings of a few hundred dollars…It’s less expensive. It’s definitely cheaper for that particular uniform.

Moody said officers will continue to use the Class A uniform for more formal events.

Downtown Councilman James Solomon said he would likely vote against the resolution for new police uniforms because the city could likely get a better price by auctioning it off.

“It’s a half-million-dollar purchase. That’s a lot of money to buy a new uniform for every officer in the department,” Solomon said Wednesday. “It’s not like we need the uniforms tomorrow…when you’re spending half a million dollars, you should really try to get the best price.”

Bergen-Lafayette Councilman Frank Gilmore questioned why the department was buying through a third party rather than directly from the company.

Heights Councilman Yousef Saleh said the new uniforms are meant to be “more inviting to the public.”

“I think it can allow for a lot more interaction with the public when it comes to a Class B uniform,” Saleh said. “If we want officers to walk a lot or maybe play in the park with kids or attend those events, we would want them to have something a little more comfortable to wear. I’m a little critical of the process he went through.