In the near future, Whitehall Township police officers may be equipped with body cameras to record contact and stops with motorists and record other incidents.

Township Police Lieutenant Ribello Bertoni said Jan. 9 the Whitehall Township Police Department "is exploring our options."

According to Bertoni, the earliest the camera would arrive is 2016.

Equipping police officers with body cameras has become more of an issue following major law enforcement incidents nationally, such as two police officers killed ambush-style in Brooklyn, N.Y., and a young man killed by an officer in the Midwest.

Cameras are said to benefit both the person confronted by a police officer as well as the officer.

"It's something emerging in law enforcement for several years," Bertoni said. "You are going to see more police with body cameras. "They can be utilized where issues are in dispute."

Bertoni said typically patrol officers in the township ride single person in a police vehicle. He said if the call requires more officers or backup then additional officers are dispatched to the scene.

Bertoni added police on duty wear bullet proof vests. Every five years the special protective vests are replaced with new versions, according to Bertoni.

With its close proximity to Allentown and the township's busy shopping and retail centers, safety is a priority for the township police department.