Boston Police are moving forward with plans for a pilot program equipping officers with body-mounted cameras, according to Commissioner William Evans. The pilot is in extremely early stages, he said, and few details have been decided at this point.

However, the program will be instated, police said. They consistently note that body cameras are not being considered because of any sort of crisis within the Boston Police Department. 

“I think our officers are doing a great job out there, “ Evans said.
Police spokesman Lt. Michael McCarthy said complaints of excessive force have declined by about 69 percent in the past five years. 

“This isn’t a program we’re implementing because this is an issue,” he said. “We’re trending in the right direction.”

Evans and Mayor Martin Walsh have stressed caution in the past, stating they are open to considering the body cameras if they are the best option for officers.

“We always said we were going to move forward carefully,” Evans told the Reporter.  Constitutional concerns have to be balanced with practical ones, he said, and appropriate protocols need to be in place regarding use.

At Politico’s inaugural Massachusetts Playbook breakfast last week, Walsh briefly addressed body cameras, saying, “That’s not going to solve the issues of crime in the neighborhood, but if it allows us the opportunity, when we do the pilot, to really work on the tensions with the police and the community, then certainly that’s something we should look at and do it.”

Echoing a common concern regarding the integration of body cameras with Boston’s lauded model of community policing, Walsh said there needs to be a continuing dialogue regarding the effectiveness of body cameras. Police officers have expressed worries regarding cameras potentially undermining the strong connection officers are attempting to build and maintain with residents.

District 4 city councilor Charles Yancey is a vocal proponent of body cameras, continuing to emphasize his commitment to the project during his current campaign. In an interview with Herald Radio, he credited himself with moving the pilot along.

At this stage, officials are meeting with vendors to ensure “we’re getting the best equipment we can,” Evans said. The size of the pilot program is still to be determined, with a few dozen officers likely participating at the beginning.

 “It’s coming,” McCarthy said. “The commissioner and the mayor were never against the idea; they just wanted to make sure they did it right.”