Darien Police, Union Settle Body Camera Complaint

DARIEN, CT — Police and town officials and the Darien police union have settled a complaint over the use of body cameras by officers, which the union said had not been properly negotiated.

The decision was reached last summer for all Darien police officers to wear body cameras. Officers have been trained on how to use them, and the devices have been worn for several months.

However, in February, the police union filed a complaint with the Connecticut State Board of Labor Relations in which the union "indicated that the use and implementation of the body worn cameras and the policies connected therewith included a number of items that were subjects of [collective] bargaining."

Town and department officials, and members of the police union, have been in discussions with
to amicably settle this complaint and reached a settlement Thursday, and the union has withdrawn their complaint.

The following is the settlement, according to police and town officials:

• Settlement of the complaint involves giving each member of the Association one "Comp" day to be used by July 19, 2018.
• The department will also agree to identify two administrators of the program and address any issues with extra duty work, as well as address language pertaining to the use of videos for disciplinary or training purposes.

Patch file photo