Worcester City Manager Supports Police Body Camera Program, But Seeks Competitive Bidding To Fund It

The City of Worcester is looking to move forward with a police body camera program, but the cost of the new technology is proving to be a hurdle, City Manager Edward Augustus tells WGBH News.

Police Chief Steven Sargent released a report of a six-month pilot program of police body cameras to the City Council Tuesday night. The program ran from May 1 through Oct. 31 last year and was donated by Axon Enterprise Incorporated, an Arizona-based company that develops technology and weapons products for law enforcement. The pilot program included body cameras and accessories that were worn by 20 officers.

Augustus said the pilot program suggests that police body cameras are a valuable tool for police and the community, demonstrating transparency and accountability, and worth moving forward. Given the protests surrounding police brutality and racial injustice, the body cameras could provide an accountability mechanism.

“Having the body camera footage to compare to any other footage that might be out there, I think gives a fuller picture and a fairer understanding of whatever incident might be being discussed,” he said.

But Augustus added that the estimated $11 million cost from the vendor to roll out a full program is prohibitive.

“We're looking at all options,” he said. “We may phase it in over a period of time, we may stretch out the payments over a period of a time, borrow the money and do maybe a payment plan.”

Augustus said the cost estimate includes additional personnel, training and equipment, and the city will still solicit bids for more competitive pricing.

“We're going to look at all the different opportunities … and we’re going to bid it out,” he said, adding that Worcester is seeking state and federal assistance to help cover the cost.

The City Council voted to hold further discussions on the program that would outfit the 450 officers in the Commonwealth’s second largest city with a body camera. Augustus said funding for the body camera program was not built into the police department's $52 million budget that began July 1, but it’s possible that the program could take effect by Jan. 1, if all the funding is in place.