Body Cameras For Worcester Police

Body Cameras for Worcester Police

Several years ago Chief Gemme, now retired, announced that the Worcester Police Department was investigating the policy of the use of body cameras for on duty patrol officers. Like with most “policy” issues in the City of Worcester the investigation was conducted in secret.

Advocates of the policy of using body cameras pointed out that body cameras protect both the public and the police officers. The information provided by the video is considered indisputable, unlike oral testimony. 

With body cameras the actions of a member of the public is clearly shown and this protects police officers from false or unsubstantial complaints. Also the actions of the police is clearly recorded protecting the public from poorly trained police officers or officers who are racist.

Body cameras are used in at least 42 large departments nation-wide and many more smaller departments.  Boston is initiating the use of body cameras on a trial basis this year. Leicester MA and the Brookfield already use them.

The overall results have been that the number of complaints made by the public are down and the number of arrests is also down. Both statistics point to a reduction of frivolous activity by the public and police. Such interactions over what many of us would call frivolous often leads to escalations.

The City Council has essentially abrogated it duty and responsibility to set policy for the Worcester Police Department. The City Manager and City Council are just rubber stamps for whatever the Police Chief and his cronies tell them.

There is no transparency in terms of complaints by the public. There is no significant external oversight over use of funds. Several City Councillors have passed resolutions in effect saying “support the cops, right or wrong”

A group of residents are petitioning the City Council to have public hearings on changes to Worcester Police policies. The petition will be given to the Worcester City Council at the August 16, 2016 City Council meeting.

Hopefully if approved by City Council, the public hearings will real and honest. The hearing should not be like the joke of City Manager Augustus’ hearings in 2015 in which the police chief did not appear and the notes were lost.

The ACLU has come up with a set of rules, a policy for the use of body cameras by the police. The Boston Police Department has adopted 80 percent of the ACLU’s proposals.

These proposals include when the cameras should be turned on or off, who gets access to the videos, verification of the cameras’ operation, etc.

These proposals certainly could be used as a basis for the City Council establishing a body camera policy for the Worcester Police Department. The City Council should also conduct an audit about any money received via grants for a pilot program for body camera use.

I been to a lot of City Council meeting and seen a lot of petitions describing good policies for the City. I have seen that most of these petitions were filed or thrown away. The petition regarding changes to Worcester Police policy is too important to be ignored.

Given the tensions between the public, especially people of color and the poor, and the police, there is a real need for the protection of our rights.