New cameras for police cars purchased with grant funds BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer SPOTSWOOD- The borough is getting a host of newvideo cameras for police cars, and officials hope the cameras will provide additional help for officers. Earlier this month, the Borough Council awarded a contract to L-3 Communications Mobile Vision for the newcameras,which are digital and will go inside all borough police cars, said council President Curtis Stollen. Mayor Barry Zagnit said the cameras record police stops and are useful, for example, when someone lodges a complaint against an officer. The cameras are augmented by a microphone worn by the officer, and in the event of an arrest the cameraswould also stay on while the subject is in the police car. Previously, some cars used an older style of cameras, and not all vehicles were equipped. Zagnit said the older systems broke down a lot and were costly to repair. "It was costly to keep them running," he said. The cameras will give an accurate representation of what occurs during traffic stops and arrests, and will be useful for police as well as for those they encounter. The contract is for $34,100 and came only after the council rejected the first round of bids, Stollen said, due to flaws in the bids.He noted that there are not many suppliers for this type of equipment.Another bidder omitted required financial information and had to be rejected, Zagnit said. The bid fromL-3 CommunicationsMobile Vision was opened inmid-December, and the borough deemed the firm to be the lowest responsible bidder, Stollen said. "For our protection and liability, it was somethingwewere looking to have," he said of the cameras. Zagnit said the cameras will be funded withmoney left over froma grant that helped the borough upgrade its emergency radio system. Spotswood received state permission to use the extra funds for this purchase. Also, some of the cost will be covered throughMiddlesexCounty ImprovementAuthority funds.