Medford Police Force Getting Body Cameras

MEDFORD, MA — Police officers in Medford will soon be outfitted with body-worn cameras under a new agreement between the city, the police department and Motorola Solutions.

The five-year, $330,000 contract will equip the entire 100-person department with body cameras, which proponents say improve accountability for officers and allow for comprehensive training and review of police interactions.

Once delivered this spring, officers will begin training on policy and use, with implementation tentatively scheduled for this fall. The agreement follows years of talks between the city and police union, during which both sides agreed on the benefits of body-worn cameras.

"I see the implementation of body-worn cameras as a benefit for the community, our city and our police department," said Police Chief Jack Buckley. "Body-worn cameras will serve to improve accountability, improve the quality of face-to-face interactions among police officers and the public, improve the department’s response to citizen complaints, provide for valuable training and review of officer interactions and support both officer safety and health and the safety and health of all who interact with the police."

Medford also obtained grant funding of nearly $300,000 per year from the Department of Mental Health, which will be used to hire two more social workers for the police department. Along with these hires, the grant will cover funding for additional de-escalating training and data analysis of the work being done.

The police department hired its first full-time clinician in November, and the grant will fund two additional hires. These clinicians will help the Behavioral Support Unit respond to calls involving people with behavioral health challenges.

The programs are part of the city's effort to strengthen relationships between police and the community.

"Our police department has made a concerted effort to improve the way it interacts and communicates with the public," Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said. "These body-worn cameras are an important tool for building public trust, strengthening community relationships and fairly conducting public safety operations. I am thrilled that the city is able to bring this technology to the department and add to the City’s commitment to transparency and accountability."