Councilors learn of progress of body cameras

April 20, 2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com



SPRINGFIELD – City councilors were told on April 12 that before Springfield police officers could start wearing body cameras or using dashboard cameras, a number of issues have to be resolved – not the least of which is the cost of the program.

The use of cameras in lock-up cells, though, may come before the body or dashboard cameras.

While City Councilor Thomas Ashe, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, readily asserts that “body cameras and cops make a whole lot of sense,” he also admitted the on-going uncertain costs of storage of the digital footage is a major factor in the discussion.

Human Resource Director Edward Mahoney told Ashe and his colleagues the city is involved in on-going contract discussions with the patrolman’s union as the issue of the body cameras must be negotiated.

He could not discuss the status of the issue but noted he and other city officials have met with the representatives of various vendors for demonstrations of the technology.

Police Commissioner John Barbieri explained the estimate to put cameras in cells is $150,000, but there are issues besides the cost. Barbieri explained the lock-up cells in the Police Headquarters were of a modular design and out-dated. When there is a problem with a cell, it must be closed unless it can be repaired with parts from another cell, he said.

The issue the commissioner identified is whether or not city officials would want to expend the funding for cell cameras knowing the present lock-up cells need to be replaced. The cells are part of a larger discussion about the condition and usefulness of the building as whole, he added.

An architectural firm is evaluating whether the current Police Headquarters can be rehabbed and enlarged or if a new building is necessary, Barbieri said. He expects an initial plan to be completed by September.

Barbieri added cell cameras would have to be used in such a way as not to violate a prisoner’s civil rights. He believes that within the next several weeks there will be a plan to consider about cell cameras and privacy screens.

Speaking of body or dashboard cameras, the commissioner said, “Storage is absolutely a concern.” He is in favor of their use, but said there are many issues to be resolved.

City Solicitor Edward Pikula said among the legal questions that must be settled are whether or not the video files would be public records, how would they be used in writing police incident reports and when would the videos be viewed.

The city would have to draft a policy that would not violate current state law and Pikula said ideally the Commonwealth should be coming up with standards that could be used by every community.

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