ACLU Unveils App to Record Police Stops

"Stealth" App allows citizens to tape police stops.

A new app created by the American Civil Liberties Union will allow citizens to record police stops on their smartphones, according to NJ.com.

The New Jersey chapter of the ACLU app creation will protect recordings from being deleted by displeased officers and report the incidents to civil rights groups.

"This app provides an essential tool for police accountability," said Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the ACLU of New Jersey, told NJ.com.

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The app, called Police Tape, was made in light of citizens across the country being harassed and arrested in public places in violent manners. Many of these citizens had no video evidence to back up their claims of excessive harassment.

"Police often videotape civilians and civilians have a constitutionally protected right to videotape police," said Alexander Shalom, ACLU New Jersey Police Council, to NJ.com. "When people know they’re being watched, they tend to behave well."

"Police Tape" is already available on Android devices. It will make its way to the iPhone next month. It can be downloaded at aclu-nj.org/app.

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