Body cameras to start Feb. 27, says Worcester police report to City Council

Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette
·2 min read

WORCESTER — City police will start using body cameras Feb. 27 and are requesting three additional positions in the city’s law department to handle redactions and accommodate records requests, according to a report before the City Council this week.

“I believe this technology will enhance safety, accountability and transparency,” Police Chief Steven M. Sargent wrote in a report to the council. “We have seen from other police departments already utilizing the technology that the BWC (Body Worn Camera) program provides an unbiased account of interactions between police and members of the community.

“The department is committed to the success of the BWC Program and we look forward to rolling it out over the next several months with the support of the City Council.”

In a file photo, a Worcester police officer wears a body camera during a pilot program.
In a file photo, a Worcester police officer wears a body camera during a pilot program.

The city and Worcester police have discussed body cameras since September 2014, and a pilot program outfitting 20 officers with the devices ran from May to November 2019. The pilot was followed by community listening sessions and an evaluation, and the police secured funding for the cameras in January 2022. The police most recently said they expected the technology would be deployed in September 2022.

Meanwhile, community members and local politicians are anxious for the technology.

At-Large Councilor Khrystian King filed four orders on the Jan. 31 Council agenda, including requests for updates on the body camera adoption by Worcester police, the department’s equity audit and the use of dashboard cameras and body cameras by police.

In addition, King requests that the council meet at a future date “for the purposes of discussing contract negotiations relative to the use of body cameras.”

At-Large Councilor Kate Toomey postponed the items a week.

According to the report to the council this week, the Police Department now has 300 body cameras and received 16 hours of training. In addition, the department provided a recommended BWC policy that was drafted by a team of Police Department officials with review and input from the city law department.

An Axon body camera similar to the ones that will be worn by Worcester police starting Feb. 27.
An Axon body camera similar to the ones that will be worn by Worcester police starting Feb. 27.

“While the ACLU does not endorse body camera policy, they did review and offer their input on the policy as requested by your honorable body,” Sargent wrote to councilors. “The policy has been shared and discussed with the entire Police Department with a high level of detail. Officers have developed a solid understanding of what is expected of them.”

The seven-page policy’s purpose is to “establish guidelines for the proper use, management, storage and retrieval of video recorded by BWCs,” and covers everything from instructions on when to turn on the cameras, to report writing when a body camera has been used, to instances of improper use of body cameras or footage recorded by the cameras.

Expect the body cameras and associated policy, as well as City Manager Eric D. Batista’s diversity, equity and inclusion plan, to dominate discussion at the 6:30 p.m. City Council meeting Tuesday at City Hall.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester police to start body cameras Feb. 27, report sayd