Improving Police Accountability in Eddystone Borough

Eddystone borough is a political sub-division located in Delaware county Pennsylvania.  Eddystone is a peninsula, boarding Crum Creek, Riley Creek and the Delaware River.  The borough has approximately 2500 residents, a commercial and industrial district.

The Borough of Eddystone Police Department is an accredited police agency committed to providing the highest quality of service to the residence of Eddystone Borough and surrounding jurisdictions that is equal and fair to everyone.  The Eddystone Police Department intent is to increase public transparency with a body camera program and update an antiquated record management system.

A body camera program will be utilized to record and document police interaction with members of the community.  The recordings will be audited to assure that law enforcement best practices are being conducted and that public encounters are in accordance to the policy and standards of the Eddystone Police Department. The documented interactions will also be utilized when investigating citizen complaints, use of force incidents and to identify the future training needs of the department.

The present record management system being utilized is outdated and does not meet the changing needs of the department and members of the community.  The Eddystone Police Department will be upgrading the record management system to an info share system.  The new record management system will allow the police department to share information, in real time, with the District Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.  The information sharing record management system will also provide a venue for direct citizen reporting in non-emergent incidents.

A body worn camera program and an upgrade to information sharing record management system will improve police services and increase transparency with members of our community.  Increasing service and transparency to the community will continue to foster the positive relationship between the Eddystone Police Department and members of the community.