Newtown Township To Outfit Patrol Officers, Vehicles With Cameras

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — Before the end of the year, police in Newtown Township will be hitting the streets equipped with body-worn cameras.

And by early 2024 every vehicle in the fleet will have an in-car camera system recording traffic stops and emergency situations.

Through a $250,000 grant and local funding, the township is purchasing 37 Axon body cams and 18 in-car camera systems for its patrol officers and its fleet.

Every officer in the patrol field will be assigned a body-worn camera, according to Chief John Hearn. Detectives will also be using a body-worn camera when serving warrants, he said.

“We are anticipating the body-worn cameras to be on the street within three months after formal training and installation of the charging banks,” said the chief. “The in-car systems will take a little longer due to equipment availability, installations and scheduling, but anticipated fully operational by early 2024.”

According to Chief Hearn, the new technology will provide local law enforcement with the tools, training, and technology to assist them in building trust and improving the safety of the community.

“Newtown Township Police Department is a four-time accredited agency and is one of only 149 agencies out of the state's over 1200 police agencies,” said Hearn. “I personally feel as their chief that it is one of the best in the county. The implementation of this program would continue to foster accountability, transparency, officer safety, as well as evidence collection for the courts. It will also ensure that our officers are upholding the professional standards of the department.”

The in-car camera systems are designed to begin recording upon initiation of the vehicle’s emergency equipment, while also being synced to the officer's body worn camera system.

When the emergency equipment in the vehicle is not activated, officers will activate their devices based on the situation, said the chief.

“Not all communications will be recorded as the positive community engagement that our officers do every day is not required for casual interactions,” said the chief.

Supervisory and command reviews will take place to ensure accountability. Police Officer Brandon Turpyn and Professional Support Staff member Amanda Pell helped secure the grant for the project after spending hours developing the language and submission protocols, said Chief Hearn.

Throughout the process, the chief said Officer Turpyn and Pell received overwhelming support from officers and from community members, including the business association, elected officials, and others.

The 2021-22 Justice Assistance Grant was awarded to the township through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency Local Initiative Funding.

The remaining cost of the $393,112 five-year project, including warranties, installations, training, and equipment, are coming from the township.

According to Hearn, the department's program is in alignment with existing best practices and programs, which have been implemented across the country, and will continue to strengthen community engagement, further build trust with law enforcement, and address key issues such as implicit and explicit bias, de-escalation, accountability, and any use of force concerns by law enforcement officers.