Worcester Police begin wearing body cameras
WORCESTER — Worcester police will begin wearing body cameras starting Monday.
The program is five years in the making. The department launched a pilot program for the cameras in 2019 where 20 volunteer officers field-tested the cameras.
Now, around 300 Worcester Police officers will be required to wear the cameras while on duty.
Officers have been trained on how to use the cameras and how to use an online program to link incidents being reported by officers with their video.
The department says the goal of the program is to increase safety, accountability, and transparency within the community. City officials said there is an emphasis on strengthening public trust with the department.
Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent called it an "exciting day" for the community and department.
Lt. Sean Murtha headed the body camera program.
"Once the people were were speaking to, if they were having a bad day, once we told them the camera was on, they calmed down also. So it worked for de-escalation, which I thought was one of the best things that came from it I didn't expect," Sargent said.
At the end of each shift, officers will plug their cameras back into the docking stations. All of their footage recorded during the day is then uploaded.
"The policy is basically if an officer is performing any kind of police action, if they're dispatched to a call, they turn the camera on. If they stop someone, do anything police related, they're going to be recording it," Murtha said.
