Worcester Police Bodycam Program Could Cost Up To $11 Million

WORCESTER, MA — Outfitting all Worcester police officers with body cameras could cost up to $11 million over five years, according to a report released by the department on Friday. The estimate comes as the Worcester City Council prepares to formally request the City Manager find funding for the program.

The cost estimate for a full bodycam program came in a report delivered to City Council that looks back at the department's six-month bodycam pilot. That lasted from May to October last year, and involved 20 officers wearing the cameras.

Two weeks ago, Worcester Councilor Sean Rose proposed beginning full implementation of bodycams in January 2021 at a cost of about $3 million. The Council will take up Rose's order at the Tuesday meeting.

On the low end, the city would need to spend about $4.4 million just to buy equipment — including 453 bodycams, software, and 150 Taser weapons. Training would cost about $545,000. The city would have to spend an additional $4 million on personnel to oversee the program, including a captain or a lieutenant, a sergeant, and five patrol officers. The report also recommends buying cell phones for all officers, which would cost $750,000 over five years.

The idea to fully implement body cameras came after a heated debate in City Council over whether to approve an increase for Worcester police this year. The Council was flooded with requests to either defund or keep the department budget flat following outcry over a clash between Worcester police and protesters on June 1.

Apart from Rose's order, Councilor Khrystian King is asking for the City Manager to immediately resume the bodycam pilot program until a permanent program can be put in place.

Read more:

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• Worcester Councilors Flooded With 'Defund Police' Emails: Records
• Defunding Worcester Police: Activists Target 2021 Budget Increase
• Video: Worcester Officers Clash With Police Brutality Protesters