Boston, MA - Boston Police will pursue a voluntary, six-month body camera pilot program, after reaching an agreement with the city police patrolmen's union Tuesday.
The program will begin with up to 100 volunteer patrol officers documenting their on-duty police activity.
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In a statement, Mayor Marty Walsh described the body cameras as another tool in Boston Police officers' work, and the pilot program as a chance to learn best practices.
BPPA President Patrick M. Rose said in a statement released by the city, "The BPPA believes that a pilot program will enable the Department and the Union to evaluate whether body cameras contribute to officer safety, provide useful evidence for criminal prosecutions and help to foster positive relations with the citizens of and visitors to the City of Boston. The BPPA also believes that this pilot program will showcase, to all of the citizens of Boston, the fine work that our members do on a day to day basis."
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The mayor's 2017 budget earmarks a half-million dollars for the pilot. Once the six-month pilot period ends, its effectiveness will be evaluated. A start date has not yet been finalized.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts is one of the community groups advocating for the body-worn cameras, but has criticized the voluntary nature of the pilot program.
Read more from Patch: What the Country Can Learn from Boston Police
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