By Jessica Kenney

The Board of Aldermen held a regular meeting on January 14, 2016. One of the topics discussed was in regard to police officers wearing body cameras. The order was that the Chief of Police should consider using body cameras on all police officers. There was a particular focus on the patrol division. The body cameras would be worn in the normal course of their duties, and would provide video from the officer’s perspective of the situations or interactions taking place during a call for service.

There was no discussion on whether the cameras would run constantly or if there would be times designated for them to be turned on; or if officers would be able to review footage before drafting their reports.

At the end of last year, President Obama asked Congress for funding to buy 50,000 body cameras to record events between police officers and those they were responding to calls for. Many police departments across the country are requiring their officers to wear body cameras, and the evidence indicates that this change is positive for both the officers and the public.

A 2013 study found that in instances where police officers were wearing body cameras, both the officers and the respondents were less likely to use violence with one another. There was a drop in force by over 50%. Body cameras hold police officers and those they are dealing with responsible for their appropriate or inappropriate behavior. With video evidence, both parties will be held responsible for their conduct. Many places have adopted this idea, and sponsors in Somerville now wish to do the same.

In a radio interview from August 2015, Somerville Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said he supported putting body cameras on his police officers. Mayor Curtatone also indicated that the Somerville Police Chief was on board and hoped within the next year, they would be close to implementing it.

As part of the Board meeting, it was further ordered that the Chief of Police in Somerville must prepare an implementation feasibility report within thirty days and present it to the Public Health and Safety Committee at a future meeting of that committee. These requests were approved at the meeting on January 14.