Politics & Government
Worcester Police Body Cameras Delayed As City Councilors Seek Policy
The Worcester City Council was poised to approve a five-year contract with Axon for bodycams, but police have not solidified a policy yet.
WORCESTER, MA — After more than two years in the works, Worcester is close to executing a contract to acquire body cameras for hundreds of police officers. But the final step in the process will wait at least one more week with city councilors seeking a final bodycam policy from the department.
At Tuesday's council meeting, At-Large Councilor Kathleen Toomey asked councilors to approve a five-year contract with Axon, the leading manufacturer of bodycams and Taser brand stun guns. The council approved spending $1.5 million to fund the first part of the contract on April 4.
Before a vote on the contract, At-Large Councilor Thu Nguyen asked to hold the vote until at least May 3. Nguyen said they want more details about items like how officers would be disciplined for violating bodycam rules, and how the public's privacy would be protected. Any councilor can table an item under privilege without a vote of the full council.
"We do need a policy before we approve this matter," they said.
Worcester police Lt. Sean Murtha told councilors the department has a bodycam policy nearly complete. Police captains are still editing the document, but it could be handed to council in about two weeks, Murtha said.
Toomey objected to the hold, highlighting how long the bodycam issue has been brewing in City Hall.
"This body has worked on this issue for more than two years," Toomey said. "I just find this absolutely ridiculous."
Worcester police kicked off a pilot bodycam program in May 2019. Following civil unrest in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, City Councilor Sean Rose asked to implement a full bodycam program in Worcester by January 2021.
The full implementation took longer, however, with Worcester holding a series of public hearings in 2021 on bodycams through the Human Rights Commission. The city has also had to find millions to pay for the program, and had to bargain with police unions before their implementation.
The five-year Axon contract will cost just under $4 million, and will outfit 300 officers with cameras and Taser weapons. Worcester has received a $250,000 state grant to put toward the program, and will have to make payments in the future for the remainder of the contract.
City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. has projected the contract with Axon could be signed by May 13, although city council has to approve any contract over three years in length. The cameras could be on police by September, which is longer than expected due to "supply chain disruptions," Augustus said in an April 4 memo.
