Public Meetings Begin On Body Cameras For Boston Police Officers
BOSTON (CBS) -- Should body cameras become standard equipment for Boston Police officers?
The Boston City Council is looking for input on that question at a public community meeting Monday night at the Roslindale Community Center, the first of several held to get feedback on the program.
The meetings come as Boston Police say they are already looking at starting a pilot program, which could begin as early as next month.
But Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans said he wants to weigh all the pros and cons regarding body cameras first. At a recent WBZ NewsRadio 1030 Business Breakfast that focused on security issues, he said he was worried the use of body cameras might interfere with how the public interacts with police.
"I just worry about its impact on our relationship with communities, and whether people will still want to talk to us," Evans said at the breakfast.
Evans did say that, in instances where body cameras have been used here in Boston, they have proven very helpful.
"Cameras have become a reality," Evans said. "They've helped us quite a bit...where other cities have blown up a little bit about police-involved shootings, in the three we've had in the last year and a half, it's helped us effectively."
Police hope their pilot program will be effective, while still respecting the privacy rights of people and officers.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Karen Twomey reports