Boston Police Aim To Unveil Body Camera Pilot Program By September 1
BOSTON (CBS) - The public and community activists weighed in, Thursday, at the first public meeting held since the Boston Police Department unveiled their policies for a police body camera pilot program.
Police Commissioner William Evans said he hopes to unveil the roughly $500,000 program involving 100 officer volunteers by September 1.
Despite widespread support for the program, community activists had questions about the program's implementation.
"Questions like 'why is this program voluntary?'" Segun Idowu of the Boston Police Camera Action team said, "Questions like 'why do participants in this program get a $500 stipend for doing their job?'"
Activists also expressed concerns about a part of the policy which allows officers to review their body camera footage before the write police reports.
"Sometimes an officer in the heat of the events, his memory can get clouded, he might not see things. So, his memory and looking at the video will get the best accurate picture," Evans said.
In response to frustrations about how long it has taken to implement the program, Evans said he wanted to take the time to "get it right."