Boston Police Command Staff Members Volunteer To Wear Body Cameras
BOSTON (CBS) – Hoping to convince other officers to do the same, a group of Boston Police Department command staff members announced Thursday that they will wear body cameras.
Police Commissioner William Evans said he, Superintendent in Chief William Gross and seven other command staff members will be trained with the equipment.
Evans said the move is in an effort "to demonstrate the department's willingness to explore this new policing tool and to show continued support for the officers who have been assigned to participate in the pilot program."
The announcement comes as a judge prepares to settle a dispute between the department and Boston Police Patrolmen's Association over the implementation of a body camera program.
A decision is expected on Friday on whether the department has the right to force officers to wear the cameras.
Command members will be bound by the same policy that is currently in place in the department, and will wear the cameras through the duration of the pilot program.
"When I asked members of my command staff to volunteer to wear the cameras, they all stepped up," said Evans. "I have the best department in the country and I am committed to getting this program started for the benefit of the community and my officers out there every day."