GEORGETOWN — Georgetown Police Chief David Sedgwick and Newbury Police Chief Patricia A. Fisher announcet that their departments are splitting a $104,310 state grant that will facilitate the purchase of body-worn cameras for all officers in both departments.
The Georgetown and Newbury Police Departments worked together to apply for a Body-Worn Camera Grant from the Massachusetts Office of Grants and Research Justice and Prevention Division and were awarded a grant that is large enough to purchase a total of 38 body-worn cameras and related equipment.
Twenty of the cameras will be used by Georgetown Police officers, while 18 of the cameras will be used by Newbury Police officers.
Installation and training are scheduled for the middle of November, with deployment of the cameras scheduled for December.
“Body-worn cameras are an essential tool for law enforcement agencies worldwide,” said Chief Sedgwick. “Body cameras provide independent and reliable visual and audio evidence to verify events, document statements and behaviors, and increase transparency with communities. We could not be more pleased to be adding these cameras to the equipment that we deploy in the interest of transparency and professionalism.”
Body-worn cameras increase transparency and accountability by providing an objective record of police-civilian interactions. They enhance the safety of both officers and civilians because the cameras help remind both officers and civilians to remain civil and professional. They assist with evidence gathering because the captured footage provides an objective record of events that can be used to verify witness and officer testimony, and ensure the accuracy of police reports. They improve police training because footage can be used to review where officers may need additional training and support, and they help to build public trust by promoting good behavior, evidence transparency, and accountability.
Once the cameras are deployed, officers will be required by department policy to wear a body-worn camera at all times during their shift. Policy dictates that they activate the camera during all interactions with the public that are a result of a call for service, or any investigative or enforcement activity. Officers will keep in consideration the expectation of privacy when activating the body-worn camera in certain areas, such as private residences or hospitals.
Prior to the launch of the program, the departments completed research into policy and best practices, vetted vendors, negotiated with the police unions, worked with the selected vendor to tailor the system for the departments’ needs, and developed formal policies for camera use and data storage.
“We are grateful to the Office of Grants and Research for this generous grant that will enable us to deploy body-worn cameras and continue our efforts to build trust within the community via accountability,” said Chief Fisher. “We look forward to rolling this program out and taking the next step toward even more modern policing.”
