The Boston City Council is considering a proposal to equip city police with body cameras.
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But others have concerns and questions about the proposal, including Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans.
The department implemented the use of the body cameras 3 years ago and so far, police and citizens do see the benefits.
Councilor Charles Yancey, who introduced the proposed ordinance, said at Wednesday night’s packed hearing that the use of body cameras will increase trust and transparency between police and the public.
Both Walsh and Evans are open to a pilot program, but stressed the cost of the cameras will be a major issue.
Boston Police Chief William Gross said he is not ready to wear a body camera yet because it could hinder community policing efforts. No vote is scheduled yet. “Everyone has a cell phone, we are continuously being videotaped and I don’t think we should be paying for the sins of what’s happening across the country”.
“We can have well-documented evidence of the interaction that takes place between the police and civilians. I think working with the community is the solution here, not putting a gadget on someone’s lapel”, he said.
The high-profile deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police officers around the country has sparked national conversations about ways to fix frayed relationships between law enforcement and African-American communities.
Wednesday night the public also weighed in.
“We should be a leader on this”, said Carol Rose, the executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, said at the hearing.
“Honestly, there are plenty of cameras out there right now”, Evans said during an interview on Boston Herald radio.
“I haven’t had many people at all mention body cameras”.
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“It’s not a choice between having ice cream trucks, having basketball games and also having body-worn cameras, that’s a false choice that you should all reject”, said Rose.
