Branchburg Township Police Department Use of Force and Arrest Data
Dear Branchburg Township,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an email from a requestor including all of the information required on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
I respectfully request the following records from the Branchburg Township Police Department for tabular data; PDF for policies/directives). If any item below is unclear or overly burdensome to produce as written, please provide the closest readily-available equivalent data and a brief note describing the difference.
Clarifying Dates: Please provide the following dates or month-year approximations:
The date (or month and year) when any sworn officers first began using body-worn cameras, including pilot, trial, or limited deployments.
The date (or month and year) when the body-worn camera program became fully operational department-wide, or the closest equivalent milestone used by the department.
If deployment occurred in phases, a brief description of those phases (e.g., units covered, approximate number of officers, or patrol assignments).
The date when funding was approved for the body worn camera program.
Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) – Historical Deployment
Please provide the following data for each month from the initial training stages of BWC program through February 2023 (9 months after department wide deployment beginning in May 2022):
Number of sworn officers assigned a body-worn camera (or number of active BWC users) per month.
Make and model of body-worn cameras in use during each month.
Total body-worn camera activations (all trigger sources combined).
Number of body-worn camera activations initiated by manual activation per month.
Monthly body-worn camera activation rate attributable to manual activation (see below).
BWC Activation Compliance (CSV preferred)
Please provide any existing reports, dashboards, audits, or summary outputs maintained by the department that reflect body-worn camera activation compliance/adherence (e.g., “required activations,” “missed activations,” “activation compliance rate,” “BWC adherence,” or similar), including any definitions used to determine when activation was “required” for the time period specified above.
If no such compliance/adherence metric is maintained, please provide the closest readily-available monthly counts that would allow calculation of a dispatch-based compliance measure, such as:
Denominator: the number of dispatched calls for service (CAD events) in which at least one BWC-equipped officer was dispatched/responded, or the closest equivalent count used by the department.
Numerator: the number of dispatched calls for service that have at least one associated BWC recording, using any existing linkage field(s) already used by the department (e.g., CAD incident number, case/report number, evidence ID/tag).
If available, monthly counts of “no associated video” with any existing reason codes (e.g., equipment malfunction, policy exception, officer not equipped, privacy restriction).
Outcomes:
Please provide the following data for each month from August 2021 through February 2023.
Total use of force incidents by month, with breakdown by type: firearm discharge, TASER/CEW, baton/impact, physical restraint/control, chemical spray, K-9 bite, other (list categories used).
Total arrests by month ( specify violent and nonviolent).
Total citizen complaints and sustained complaints, by month. Breakdown by excessive force, biased policing, racial profiling, criminal conduct; and the number sustained in each category.
Total calls for service (CFS) by month. If readily available, please provide monthly counts cross-tabulated by (1) initiation type (citizen-initiated vs officer-initiated/on-view) and (2) disposition/outcome, using existing CAD/RMS classifications.
Policies (PDF preferred)
Please provide copies of all current and superseded policies, directives, training materials, or bulletins from 2022-present concerning BWC activation procedures, rules, and consequences for noncompliance.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward my request to that person and provide their email address to me for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
Valentina Moreno
OPRA-Req-26-0005
Date Received: 1/5/2026
Status: Approved for Data Collection
Applicant: Valentina Moreno
Information Requested: Dear Branchburg Township,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made
under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required
to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform
to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an
email from a requestor including all of the information required
on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as
a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws
of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial
purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
I respectfully request the following records from the Branchburg
Township Police Department for tabular data; PDF for
policies/directives). If any item below is unclear or overly
burdensome to produce as written, please provide the closest
readily-available equivalent data and a brief note describing the
difference.
Clarifying Dates: Please provide the following dates or month-year
approximations:
The date (or month and year) when any sworn officers first began
using body-worn cameras, including pilot, trial, or limited
deployments.
The date (or month and year) when the body-worn camera program
became fully operational department-wide, or the closest
equivalent milestone used by the department.
If deployment occurred in phases, a brief description of those
phases (e.g., units covered, approximate number of officers, or
patrol assignments).
The date when funding was approved for the body worn camera
program.
Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) - Historical Deployment
Please provide the following data for each month from the initial
training stages of BWC program through February 2023 (9 months
after department wide deployment beginning in May 2022):
Number of sworn officers assigned a body-worn camera (or number of
active BWC users) per month.
Make and model of body-worn cameras in use during each month.
Total body-worn camera activations (all trigger sources combined).
Number of body-worn camera activations initiated by manual
activation per month.
Monthly body-worn camera activation rate attributable to manual
activation (see below).
BWC Activation Compliance (CSV preferred)
Please provide any existing reports, dashboards, audits, or
summary outputs maintained by the department that reflect
body-worn camera activation compliance/adherence (e.g., "required
activations," "missed activations," "activation compliance rate,"
"BWC adherence," or similar), including any definitions used to
determine when activation was "required" for the time period
specified above.
If no such compliance/adherence metric is maintained, please
provide the closest readily-available monthly counts that would
allow calculation of a dispatch-based compliance measure, such as:
Denominator: the number of dispatched calls for service (CAD
events) in which at least one BWC-equipped officer was
dispatched/responded, or the closest equivalent count used by the
department.
Numerator: the number of dispatched calls for service that have at
least one associated BWC recording, using any existing linkage
field(s) already used by the department (e.g., CAD incident
number, case/report number, evidence ID/tag).
If available, monthly counts of "no associated video" with any
existing reason codes (e.g., equipment malfunction, policy
exception, officer not equipped, privacy restriction).
Outcomes:
Please provide the following data for each month from August 2021
through February 2023.
Total use of force incidents by month, with breakdown by type:
firearm discharge, TASER/CEW, baton/impact, physical
restraint/control, chemical spray, K-9 bite, other (list
categories used).
Total arrests by month ( specify violent and nonviolent).
Total citizen complaints and sustained complaints, by month.
Breakdown by excessive force, biased policing, racial profiling,
criminal conduct; and the number sustained in each category.
Total calls for service (CFS) by month. If readily available,
please provide monthly counts cross-tabulated by (1) initiation
type (citizen-initiated vs officer-initiated/on-view) and (2)
disposition/outcome, using existing CAD/RMS classifications.
Policies (PDF preferred)
Please provide copies of all current and superseded policies,
directives, training materials, or bulletins from 2022-present
concerning BWC activation procedures, rules, and consequences for
noncompliance.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by
E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this
request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward
my request to that person and provide their email address to me
for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
Valentina Moreno
Response: 1-14-2026 - The township is still compiling the data
repsonsive to this request. A response will be forthcoming by
January 23, 2026.
[1]SDL Portal page for OPRA Request
Spatial Data Logic 2020
References
Visible links
1. https://u131632.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click...
OPRA-Req-26-0005
Date Received: 1/5/2026
Status: Completed
Date Completed: 1/22/2026
Applicant: Valentina Moreno
Information Requested: Dear Branchburg Township,
Please accept this electronic request for public records made
under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required
to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform
to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an
email from a requestor including all of the information required
on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as
a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws
of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial
purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
I respectfully request the following records from the Branchburg
Township Police Department for tabular data; PDF for
policies/directives). If any item below is unclear or overly
burdensome to produce as written, please provide the closest
readily-available equivalent data and a brief note describing the
difference.
Clarifying Dates: Please provide the following dates or month-year
approximations:
The date (or month and year) when any sworn officers first began
using body-worn cameras, including pilot, trial, or limited
deployments.
The date (or month and year) when the body-worn camera program
became fully operational department-wide, or the closest
equivalent milestone used by the department.
If deployment occurred in phases, a brief description of those
phases (e.g., units covered, approximate number of officers, or
patrol assignments).
The date when funding was approved for the body worn camera
program.
Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) - Historical Deployment
Please provide the following data for each month from the initial
training stages of BWC program through February 2023 (9 months
after department wide deployment beginning in May 2022):
Number of sworn officers assigned a body-worn camera (or number of
active BWC users) per month.
Make and model of body-worn cameras in use during each month.
Total body-worn camera activations (all trigger sources combined).
Number of body-worn camera activations initiated by manual
activation per month.
Monthly body-worn camera activation rate attributable to manual
activation (see below).
BWC Activation Compliance (CSV preferred)
Please provide any existing reports, dashboards, audits, or
summary outputs maintained by the department that reflect
body-worn camera activation compliance/adherence (e.g., "required
activations," "missed activations," "activation compliance rate,"
"BWC adherence," or similar), including any definitions used to
determine when activation was "required" for the time period
specified above.
If no such compliance/adherence metric is maintained, please
provide the closest readily-available monthly counts that would
allow calculation of a dispatch-based compliance measure, such as:
Denominator: the number of dispatched calls for service (CAD
events) in which at least one BWC-equipped officer was
dispatched/responded, or the closest equivalent count used by the
department.
Numerator: the number of dispatched calls for service that have at
least one associated BWC recording, using any existing linkage
field(s) already used by the department (e.g., CAD incident
number, case/report number, evidence ID/tag).
If available, monthly counts of "no associated video" with any
existing reason codes (e.g., equipment malfunction, policy
exception, officer not equipped, privacy restriction).
Outcomes:
Please provide the following data for each month from August 2021
through February 2023.
Total use of force incidents by month, with breakdown by type:
firearm discharge, TASER/CEW, baton/impact, physical
restraint/control, chemical spray, K-9 bite, other (list
categories used).
Total arrests by month ( specify violent and nonviolent).
Total citizen complaints and sustained complaints, by month.
Breakdown by excessive force, biased policing, racial profiling,
criminal conduct; and the number sustained in each category.
Total calls for service (CFS) by month. If readily available,
please provide monthly counts cross-tabulated by (1) initiation
type (citizen-initiated vs officer-initiated/on-view) and (2)
disposition/outcome, using existing CAD/RMS classifications.
Policies (PDF preferred)
Please provide copies of all current and superseded policies,
directives, training materials, or bulletins from 2022-present
concerning BWC activation procedures, rules, and consequences for
noncompliance.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by
E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this
request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward
my request to that person and provide their email address to me
for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
Valentina Moreno
Response: 1-14-2026 - The township is still compiling the data
repsonsive to this request. A response will be forthcoming by
January 23, 2026.
1-22-2026 - In response to the OPRA request received in this
office on 01/05/2026, with an extension date of 01/23/2025, see
the itemized responses outlined below:
"Clarifying Dates: Please provide the following dates or
month-year approximations: The date (or month and year) when any
sworn officers first began using body-worn cameras, including
pilot, trial, or limited deployments" - Branchburg PD implemented
BWC for all sworn personnel effective 5/4/2022. BWC SOP was
written and dated 5/3/2022 and disseminated to Officers on
5/4/2022.
"The date (or month and year) when the body-worn camera program
became fully operational department-wide, or the closest
equivalent milestone used by the department" - 5/4/2022
"If deployment occurred in phases, a brief description of those
phases (e.g., units covered, approximate number of officers, or
patrol assignments)" - N/A, BWC's implemented department-wide on
5/4/2022.
"The date when funding was approved for the body worn camera
program" - 10/11/22, see attached Resolution No. 2021-225.
"Body-Worn Cams (BWC) - Historical Deployment" - 5/4/2022
"Please provide the following data for each month from the initial
training stages of BWC program through February 2023 (9 months
after department wide deployment beginning in May 2022)" - No
record(s) responsive to this request.
"Number of sworn officers assigned a body-worn camera (or number
of active BWC users) per month" - All sworn personnel of
Branchburg PD have designated BWC's, currently Branchburg PD has
30 Sworn Police Officers
"Make and model of body-worn cameras in use during each month" -
Motorola V300 (May 2022-June 2025), Motorola V700 (July
2025-Current)
"Total body-worn cameras in use during each month" - See
activation search from Watchguard/Motorola
"Number of body-worn camera activations initiated by manual
activation per month" - same as above, see activation from
Watchguard/Motorola
"Monthly body-worn camera activation rate attributable to manual
activation (see below)... (BWC) Activation Compliance (CSV
preferred)" - this is a very broad and vague request. Please
provide clarification on exactly what data is being sought.
" "Please provide any existing reports, dashboards, audits, or
summary outputs maintained by the department that reflect
activation compliance/adherence (e.g., "required activations",
"missed activations", "activation compliance rate", "BWC
adherence", or similar), including any definitions used to
determine when activation was "required" for the time period
specified above" - There are no record(s) responsive to this
request.
" If no such compliance/adherence metric is maintained, please
provide the closest readily-available monthly counts that would
allow calculation of dispatch-based compliance measure, such as:
Denominator: the number of dispatched calls for service (CAD
events) in which at least one BWC-equipped officer was
dispatched/responded, or the closest equivalent count used by the
department. Numerator: the number of dispatched calls for service
that have at least one associated BWC recording, using any
existing linkage field(s) already used by the department (e.g.,
CAD incident number, case/report number, evidence ID/tag)" - This
request entails research, there is no existing "search" function
for what is being sought. Please be advised that under the Open
Public Records Act an agency is only required to search their
files to retrieve specific, identified records, they are not
required to perform research to create a new record, analyze data,
or answer questions. See attached CAD Incident search for
Branchburg Township from 5/1/2022 through 2/28/2023
" If available, monthly counts of "no associated video" with any
existing reason codes (e.g., equipment malfunction, policy
exception, officer not equipped, privacy restriction)" - This
request entails research, there is no existing "search" function
for what is being sought. Please be advised that under the Open
Public Records Act an agency is only required to search their
files to retrieve specific, identified records, they are not
required to perform research to create a new record, analyze data,
or answer questions. There are no record(s) responsive from
Branchburg PD
"Outcomes: Please provide the following data for each month from
August 2021 through February 2023. Total use of force incidents by
month, with breakdown by type: firearm discharge, TASER/CEW,
baton/impact, physical restraint/control, chemical spray, K-9
bite, other (list categories used)" - This request entails
research, there is no existing "search" function for what is being
sought. Please be advised that under the Open Public Records Act
an agency is only required to search their files to retrieve
specific, identified records, they are not required to perform
research to create a new record, analyze data, or answer
questions. Below is what can be obtained as a "search" by
Branchburg PD
" Use of Force - NJ Attorney General's Website
https://www.njoag.gov/force/
"Total arrests by month (specify violent and nonviolent)" - This
request entails research, there is no existing "search" function
for what is being sought. Please be advised that under the Open
Public Records Act an agency is only required to search their
files to retrieve specific, identified records, they are not
required to perform research to create a new record, analyze data,
or answer questions. See below as to what is "searchable" by
Branchburg PD
" February 2023 (18 Bookings), January 2023 (18 Bookings),
December 2022 (17 Bookings), November 2022 (18 Bookings), October
2022 (17 Bookings), September 2022 (16 Bookings), August 2022 (14
Bookings), July 2022 (10 Bookings), June 2022 (16 Bookings), May
2022 (11 Bookings), April 2022 (20 Bookings), March 2022 (14
Bookings), February 2022 (19 Bookings), January 2022 (15
Bookings), December 2021 (9 Bookings), November 2021 (18
Bookings), October 2021 (10 Bookings), September 2021 (20
Bookings), August 2021 (7 Bookings)
"Total citizen complaints and sustained complaints, by month.
Breakdown by excessive force, biased policing, racial profiling,
criminal conduct; and the number in each category" - This request
entails research, there is no existing "search" function for is
being sought. Please be advised that under the Open Public Records
Act an agency is only required to search their files to retrieve
specific, identified records, they are not required to perform
research to create a new record, analyze data, or answer
questions. See below as to what is "searchable" by Branchburg PD.
" See Annual Internal Affairs Summary Reports posted on our
public website
https://branchburg.nj.us/documents/index...
"Total calls for service (CFS) by month. If readily available,
please provide monthly counts cross-tabulated by (1) initiation
type (citizen-initiated vs officer0inititated/on-view) and (2)
disposition/outcome, using existing CAD/RMS classifications" -
This request entails research, there is no existing "search"
function for is being sought. Attached find a printout of what can
be obtained as a "search" for CAD Incidents ("CFS") by Branchburg
PD from August 1, 2021 through February 28, 2023.
"Policies (PDF preferred), Please provide copies of all current
and superseded policies, directives, training materials, or
bulletins from 2022-present concerning BWC activation procedures,
rules, and consequences for noncompliance" - Please further
clarify, this statement is overly broad and vague. Below is what
can be obtained as a "search" by Branchburg PD.
Further information can be found through the following links:
" Branchburg's BWC SOP on the Township website:
https://branchburg.nj.us/about_police_de...
" NJ Attorney General's Body Worn Camera Policy
https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj
[1]SDL Portal page for OPRA Request
Spatial Data Logic 2020
References
Visible links
1. https://u131632.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click...
Dear Branchburg Township,
Hello,
The BWC activation spreadsheet is not working. Can you resend it? Also, can you send me the annual use of force reports, as I cant seem to find them on the Attorney Generals website.
Yours faithfully,
Valentina Moreno
Attached find the BWC activation spreadsheet.
Use of Force Reports:
Scroll to the bottom of the home page:
[1]https://www.njoag.gov/force/#dashboard to activate the dashboard and
use the tabs at the top to navigate all State data.
Branchburg Township's Use of Force reports can be found here:
[2]https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/n...
Thank you,
Maggie
Maggie Schmitt, RMC, CMR
Township Clerk
Asst. Administrator
Registrar of Vital Statistics
908-526-1300 ext. 103
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: Valentina Moreno
<[OPRA #84873 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 4:38 PM
To: Maggie Schmitt <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-26-0005
Dear Branchburg Township,
Hello,
The BWC activation spreadsheet is not working. Can you resend it? Also,
can you send me the annual use of force reports, as I cant seem to find
them on the Attorney Generals website.
Yours faithfully,
Valentina Moreno
With regard to your recent phone inquiry, attached find a spreadsheet
categorizing the number of calls itemized for the time period 5/1/2022
through 2/28/2023.
Thank you,
Maggie
Maggie Schmitt, RMC, CMR
Township Clerk
Asst. Administrator
Registrar of Vital Statistics
908-526-1300 ext. 103
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: Maggie Schmitt <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 9:25 AM
To: Valentina Moreno
<[OPRA #84873 email]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-26-0005
Attached find the BWC activation spreadsheet.
Use of Force Reports:
Scroll to the bottom of the home page:
[1]https://www.njoag.gov/force/#dashboard to activate the dashboard and
use the tabs at the top to navigate all State data.
Branchburg Township's Use of Force reports can be found here:
[2]https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/n...
Thank you,
Maggie
Maggie Schmitt, RMC, CMR
Township Clerk
Asst. Administrator
Registrar of Vital Statistics
908-526-1300 ext. 103
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: Valentina Moreno
<[OPRA #84873 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 4:38 PM
To: Maggie Schmitt <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-26-0005
Dear Branchburg Township,
Hello,
The BWC activation spreadsheet is not working. Can you resend it? Also,
can you send me the annual use of force reports, as I cant seem to find
them on the Attorney Generals website.
Yours faithfully,
Valentina Moreno
Hello - your message has been received. We are working with our vendor to
see if the records as requested can be downloaded. Our system will not
support downloading this much data.
Thank you,
Maggie
Maggie Schmitt, RMC, CMR
Township Clerk
Asst. Administrator
Registrar of Vital Statistics
908-526-1300 ext. 103
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: Maggie Schmitt <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2026 4:22 PM
To: Valentina Moreno
<[OPRA #84873 email]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-26-0005
With regard to your recent phone inquiry, attached find a spreadsheet
categorizing the number of calls itemized for the time period 5/1/2022
through 2/28/2023.
Thank you,
Maggie
Maggie Schmitt, RMC, CMR
Township Clerk
Asst. Administrator
Registrar of Vital Statistics
908-526-1300 ext. 103
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: Maggie Schmitt <[email address]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 4, 2026 9:25 AM
To: Valentina Moreno
<[OPRA #84873 email]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-26-0005
Attached find the BWC activation spreadsheet.
Use of Force Reports:
Scroll to the bottom of the home page:
[1]https://www.njoag.gov/force/#dashboard to activate the dashboard and
use the tabs at the top to navigate all State data.
Branchburg Township's Use of Force reports can be found here:
[2]https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/n...
Thank you,
Maggie
Maggie Schmitt, RMC, CMR
Township Clerk
Asst. Administrator
Registrar of Vital Statistics
908-526-1300 ext. 103
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
From: Valentina Moreno
<[OPRA #84873 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, March 3, 2026 4:38 PM
To: Maggie Schmitt <[email address]>
Subject: Re: OPRA Request OPRA-Req-26-0005
Dear Branchburg Township,
Hello,
The BWC activation spreadsheet is not working. Can you resend it? Also,
can you send me the annual use of force reports, as I cant seem to find
them on the Attorney Generals website.
Yours faithfully,
Valentina Moreno
OPRA-Req-26-0005
Date Received: 1/5/2026
Status: Completed
Date Completed: 4/7/2026
Applicant: Valentina Moreno
Information Requested: Dear Branchburg Township,
4/7/2026 - As a follow up to your request for CAD Incident Reports
from 5/2021 to 5/2023, attached find the file with the information
pursuant to your request.
Please accept this electronic request for public records made
under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required
to fill out an official form or use a particular software platform
to submit my request per NJSA 47:1A-6(f), which states that an
email from a requestor including all of the information required
on the adopted form shall suffice in place of a completed form as
a valid government record request.
I HAVE NOT been convicted of any indictable offense under the laws
of New Jersey, any other state, or the United States.
I WILL NOT use the requested government records for a commercial
purpose.
I AM NOT seeking records in connection with a legal proceeding.
Records requested:
I respectfully request the following records from the Branchburg
Township Police Department for tabular data; PDF for
policies/directives). If any item below is unclear or overly
burdensome to produce as written, please provide the closest
readily-available equivalent data and a brief note describing the
difference.
Clarifying Dates: Please provide the following dates or month-year
approximations:
The date (or month and year) when any sworn officers first began
using body-worn cameras, including pilot, trial, or limited
deployments.
The date (or month and year) when the body-worn camera program
became fully operational department-wide, or the closest
equivalent milestone used by the department.
If deployment occurred in phases, a brief description of those
phases (e.g., units covered, approximate number of officers, or
patrol assignments).
The date when funding was approved for the body worn camera
program.
Body-Worn Cameras (BWC) - Historical Deployment
Please provide the following data for each month from the initial
training stages of BWC program through February 2023 (9 months
after department wide deployment beginning in May 2022):
Number of sworn officers assigned a body-worn camera (or number of
active BWC users) per month.
Make and model of body-worn cameras in use during each month.
Total body-worn camera activations (all trigger sources combined).
Number of body-worn camera activations initiated by manual
activation per month.
Monthly body-worn camera activation rate attributable to manual
activation (see below).
BWC Activation Compliance (CSV preferred)
Please provide any existing reports, dashboards, audits, or
summary outputs maintained by the department that reflect
body-worn camera activation compliance/adherence (e.g., "required
activations," "missed activations," "activation compliance rate,"
"BWC adherence," or similar), including any definitions used to
determine when activation was "required" for the time period
specified above.
If no such compliance/adherence metric is maintained, please
provide the closest readily-available monthly counts that would
allow calculation of a dispatch-based compliance measure, such as:
Denominator: the number of dispatched calls for service (CAD
events) in which at least one BWC-equipped officer was
dispatched/responded, or the closest equivalent count used by the
department.
Numerator: the number of dispatched calls for service that have at
least one associated BWC recording, using any existing linkage
field(s) already used by the department (e.g., CAD incident
number, case/report number, evidence ID/tag).
If available, monthly counts of "no associated video" with any
existing reason codes (e.g., equipment malfunction, policy
exception, officer not equipped, privacy restriction).
Outcomes:
Please provide the following data for each month from August 2021
through February 2023.
Total use of force incidents by month, with breakdown by type:
firearm discharge, TASER/CEW, baton/impact, physical
restraint/control, chemical spray, K-9 bite, other (list
categories used).
Total arrests by month ( specify violent and nonviolent).
Total citizen complaints and sustained complaints, by month.
Breakdown by excessive force, biased policing, racial profiling,
criminal conduct; and the number sustained in each category.
Total calls for service (CFS) by month. If readily available,
please provide monthly counts cross-tabulated by (1) initiation
type (citizen-initiated vs officer-initiated/on-view) and (2)
disposition/outcome, using existing CAD/RMS classifications.
Policies (PDF preferred)
Please provide copies of all current and superseded policies,
directives, training materials, or bulletins from 2022-present
concerning BWC activation procedures, rules, and consequences for
noncompliance.
My preferred delivery method for response(s) to this request is by
E-mail as attachments. Please confirm you have received this
request. If you are not the custodian of records, please forward
my request to that person and provide their email address to me
for future reference.
Yours faithfully,
Valentina Moreno
Response: 1-14-2026 - The township is still compiling the data
repsonsive to this request. A response will be forthcoming by
January 23, 2026.
1-22-2026 - In response to the OPRA request received in this
office on 01/05/2026, with an extension date of 01/23/2025, see
the itemized responses outlined below:
"Clarifying Dates: Please provide the following dates or
month-year approximations: The date (or month and year) when any
sworn officers first began using body-worn cameras, including
pilot, trial, or limited deployments" - Branchburg PD implemented
BWC for all sworn personnel effective 5/4/2022. BWC SOP was
written and dated 5/3/2022 and disseminated to Officers on
5/4/2022.
"The date (or month and year) when the body-worn camera program
became fully operational department-wide, or the closest
equivalent milestone used by the department" - 5/4/2022
"If deployment occurred in phases, a brief description of those
phases (e.g., units covered, approximate number of officers, or
patrol assignments)" - N/A, BWC's implemented department-wide on
5/4/2022.
"The date when funding was approved for the body worn camera
program" - 10/11/22, see attached Resolution No. 2021-225.
"Body-Worn Cams (BWC) - Historical Deployment" - 5/4/2022
"Please provide the following data for each month from the initial
training stages of BWC program through February 2023 (9 months
after department wide deployment beginning in May 2022)" - No
record(s) responsive to this request.
"Number of sworn officers assigned a body-worn camera (or number
of active BWC users) per month" - All sworn personnel of
Branchburg PD have designated BWC's, currently Branchburg PD has
30 Sworn Police Officers
"Make and model of body-worn cameras in use during each month" -
Motorola V300 (May 2022-June 2025), Motorola V700 (July
2025-Current)
"Total body-worn cameras in use during each month" - See
activation search from Watchguard/Motorola
"Number of body-worn camera activations initiated by manual
activation per month" - same as above, see activation from
Watchguard/Motorola
"Monthly body-worn camera activation rate attributable to manual
activation (see below)... (BWC) Activation Compliance (CSV
preferred)" - this is a very broad and vague request. Please
provide clarification on exactly what data is being sought.
" "Please provide any existing reports, dashboards, audits, or
summary outputs maintained by the department that reflect
activation compliance/adherence (e.g., "required activations",
"missed activations", "activation compliance rate", "BWC
adherence", or similar), including any definitions used to
determine when activation was "required" for the time period
specified above" - There are no record(s) responsive to this
request.
" If no such compliance/adherence metric is maintained, please
provide the closest readily-available monthly counts that would
allow calculation of dispatch-based compliance measure, such as:
Denominator: the number of dispatched calls for service (CAD
events) in which at least one BWC-equipped officer was
dispatched/responded, or the closest equivalent count used by the
department. Numerator: the number of dispatched calls for service
that have at least one associated BWC recording, using any
existing linkage field(s) already used by the department (e.g.,
CAD incident number, case/report number, evidence ID/tag)" - This
request entails research, there is no existing "search" function
for what is being sought. Please be advised that under the Open
Public Records Act an agency is only required to search their
files to retrieve specific, identified records, they are not
required to perform research to create a new record, analyze data,
or answer questions. See attached CAD Incident search for
Branchburg Township from 5/1/2022 through 2/28/2023
" If available, monthly counts of "no associated video" with any
existing reason codes (e.g., equipment malfunction, policy
exception, officer not equipped, privacy restriction)" - This
request entails research, there is no existing "search" function
for what is being sought. Please be advised that under the Open
Public Records Act an agency is only required to search their
files to retrieve specific, identified records, they are not
required to perform research to create a new record, analyze data,
or answer questions. There are no record(s) responsive from
Branchburg PD
"Outcomes: Please provide the following data for each month from
August 2021 through February 2023. Total use of force incidents by
month, with breakdown by type: firearm discharge, TASER/CEW,
baton/impact, physical restraint/control, chemical spray, K-9
bite, other (list categories used)" - This request entails
research, there is no existing "search" function for what is being
sought. Please be advised that under the Open Public Records Act
an agency is only required to search their files to retrieve
specific, identified records, they are not required to perform
research to create a new record, analyze data, or answer
questions. Below is what can be obtained as a "search" by
Branchburg PD
" Use of Force - NJ Attorney General's Website
https://www.njoag.gov/force/
"Total arrests by month (specify violent and nonviolent)" - This
request entails research, there is no existing "search" function
for what is being sought. Please be advised that under the Open
Public Records Act an agency is only required to search their
files to retrieve specific, identified records, they are not
required to perform research to create a new record, analyze data,
or answer questions. See below as to what is "searchable" by
Branchburg PD
" February 2023 (18 Bookings), January 2023 (18 Bookings),
December 2022 (17 Bookings), November 2022 (18 Bookings), October
2022 (17 Bookings), September 2022 (16 Bookings), August 2022 (14
Bookings), July 2022 (10 Bookings), June 2022 (16 Bookings), May
2022 (11 Bookings), April 2022 (20 Bookings), March 2022 (14
Bookings), February 2022 (19 Bookings), January 2022 (15
Bookings), December 2021 (9 Bookings), November 2021 (18
Bookings), October 2021 (10 Bookings), September 2021 (20
Bookings), August 2021 (7 Bookings)
"Total citizen complaints and sustained complaints, by month.
Breakdown by excessive force, biased policing, racial profiling,
criminal conduct; and the number in each category" - This request
entails research, there is no existing "search" function for is
being sought. Please be advised that under the Open Public Records
Act an agency is only required to search their files to retrieve
specific, identified records, they are not required to perform
research to create a new record, analyze data, or answer
questions. See below as to what is "searchable" by Branchburg PD.
" See Annual Internal Affairs Summary Reports posted on our
public website
https://branchburg.nj.us/documents/index...
"Total calls for service (CFS) by month. If readily available,
please provide monthly counts cross-tabulated by (1) initiation
type (citizen-initiated vs officer0inititated/on-view) and (2)
disposition/outcome, using existing CAD/RMS classifications" -
This request entails research, there is no existing "search"
function for is being sought. Attached find a printout of what can
be obtained as a "search" for CAD Incidents ("CFS") by Branchburg
PD from August 1, 2021 through February 28, 2023.
"Policies (PDF preferred), Please provide copies of all current
and superseded policies, directives, training materials, or
bulletins from 2022-present concerning BWC activation procedures,
rules, and consequences for noncompliance" - Please further
clarify, this statement is overly broad and vague. Below is what
can be obtained as a "search" by Branchburg PD.
Further information can be found through the following links:
" Branchburg's BWC SOP on the Township website:
https://branchburg.nj.us/about_police_de...
" NJ Attorney General's Body Worn Camera Policy
https://www.nj.gov/oag/dcj
[1]SDL Portal page for OPRA Request
Spatial Data Logic 2020
References
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1. https://u131632.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click...