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Released: 5/27/2021
Delaware River Port Authority Police Department Deploys Body-Worn Cameras
Agency implements technology to enhance professional policing efforts and increase transparency
DRPA Transit Police Officer Caruso on patrol with K9 Lennox at PATCO Ferry Avenue Station. Starting Friday, May 28, DRPA Police officers will be equipped with body cameras to promote accountability, transparency and professionalism.
Starting Friday, May 28, Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Police officers will be wearing body-worn cameras while on patrol. The high-definition cameras, worn visibly near an officer’s chest, can wirelessly upload captured video and audio to a secure cloud-based storage site where police administrators can review the media.
“The body-worn cameras will be a valuable tool for our department and the communities we serve,” said Acting Police Chief Robert J. Finnegan. “The technology will enhance officer safety, promote police accountability, assist in prosecutions, and provide a transparent unbiased view of interactions between our officers and the public we serve and interact with daily.”
The launch comes after a multi-month training and pilot program. It is part of a $609,000 project to upgrade the department with the latest audio/video technology, including upgrading dash-cams currently installed in every patrol car.
The DRPA Police Department is responsible for protecting life, property, and public assets spread across an extensive area, including four Delaware River toll bridges and the 14.2-mile PATCO High-Speed Line with its 13 transit stations. In addition, the department patrols and secures DRPA/PATCO property on the Pennsylvania and New Jersey highways leading to the bridges; parts of the municipalities located at the bridge landings (including Philadelphia and Chester, Pennsylvania, and Camden, N.J.); and the Delaware River waterway itself.
The 150-member force provides coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and handles more than 80,000 calls for service annually. The department comprises several highly-specialized units, including a Bike Patrol Unit, Commercial Vehicle Unit (CVU), High Angle Rescue Team (HART), Homeland Security, Honor Guard, Internal Affairs, K9 Unit, Marine Unit, and Transit Unit.
“DRPA police officers are committed to serving our community with pride and professionalism,” said Edward W. Cobbs, DRPA Captain of Police. “As part of this commitment, our police department welcomes this law enforcement tool that reinforces the public’s perception of police professionalism, integrity, and transparency.”
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