WORCESTER – District 1 City Councilor Sean Rose wants Worcester Police Department [WPD] officers wearing body cameras by the start of the new year.
Rose filed an order for the City Council meeting on July 21 that requests City Manager Ed Augustus initiate a Permanent Body-Worn Camera Program for WPD and it be in place by January 1, 2021.
Rose said the plan addresses three important areas important to the community and WPD: transparency, safety, and accountability.
The plan has the support of two local police union leaders. New England Police Benevolent Association [NEPBA] Local 911 President Dan Gilbert and International Brotherhood of Police Officers [IBPO] Local 504 Vice President Anthony Petrone have both stated they support the measure.
The order has nearly universal support from the city council: Mayor Joe Petty, and at-large councilors Morris Bergman, Donna Colorio, Gary Rosen and Kate Toomey all support the measure. The other four district councilors; Candy Mero-Carlson, George Russell, Sarai Rivera and Matt Wally have all said they will support it as well.
A six-month pilot program for Body-Worn Camera ran from May 1 to October 31, 2019. The program captured some 7,700 videos across the 46 officers who volunteered for the program.
City Council expects to a full report on the pilot program to be presented to them by the end of July.
