A pilot program equipping some Worcester police officers with body cameras is getting close to reality.
The department for the second-largest city in New England will join the Massachusetts State Police and Boston Police as police department’s running pilot programs, once it begins in Worcester.
Communications from Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. and Police Chief Steven Sargent listed in the upcoming City Council agenda did not contain a projected start date.
In June, the city of Springfield and the police department’s patrol officers’ union agreed to the use of body cameras as part of its new contract. Springfield will become the largest department in the state with body cameras not in a pilot program once it starts in the city.
In Worcester’s council agenda, officials said Axon Enterprise, which is based in Arizona, is donating 20 body-worn cameras and all the necessary accessories to the Worcester Police Department for a six-month pilot program.
Axon develops weapons and technology for law enforcement agencies. The company will also donate 20 spare cameras, charging stations and other items.
“The Worcester Police Department has completed the training necessary to begin a pilot program for body-worn cameras,” Sargent said. “The pilot program lasts for six months and involves twenty officers from the Operations, Neighborhood Response Team, and Traffic Division wearing body-worn cameras for their shift.”
The value of the donation is $33,174. Axon helped train Worcester police. There is no cost to the department for the donation.
Augustus will ask the council Tuesday night to accept the donation.
Worcester police have discussed the use of body cameras since the August 2014 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri.
In December, the city and the Worcester police officers’ union reached a contract agreement that includes a framework for a Body Worn Camera pilot program.
“This pilot program will inform us on the value of this technology and allow us to address concerns regarding the use and effectiveness of the equipment, budgetary requirements, as well as issues of safety, privacy and other related topics,” Augustus said at the time.
