The issue of police body cameras are on the minds of some police officers in New England following the events in Ferguson, Missouri and a proposal from President Obama.
President Obama wants $75 million in federal funds to help departments outfit their officers with the cameras, something several New England police departments are considering, including Worcester and Brookline.
The White House has said that the use of such cameras could resolve the types of disputes between police and witnesses that happened following the Ferguson shooting.
Former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson resigned from the department following a Grand Jury’s decision not to indict him on criminal charges in the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown.
The shooting death of Brown, 18, sparked a series of sometimes-violent protests which renewed following the Grand Jury’s decision.
The use of such cameras is such a hot issue that Brookline Police put the question on Twitter.
Lt. Philip Harrington said of the responses, “I'd describe it as positive responses and a lot of people shared the same concerns we do here as a department.”
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They are reviewing studies from other departments and there are still plenty of other questions that need to be answered.
An expert tells necn that the cameras could be costly.
Jim Trombly, Owner of Delphi Technology Solutions said, "The amount of data we're talking about for an average size police department they might need storage that may rate from $50,000 to a $100,000 system if they're going to keep it in house.”
