The Somerville City Council approved the use of a state grant to purchase and implement body-worn cameras for police officers.

By Christa Lee

City of Somerville’s City Council held a public hearing on July 27 and approved using a $231,635 state grant on police body worn cameras, which expires on August 31. The grant and other funds saved for this reason are expected to cover all costs for the 2027 financial year.Mayor Wilson started his presentation with a strong statement that the “community is tired of waiting for action on commitments to police reform that were made six years ago in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd.” He continued by discussing the collaborative work put into the policy, which “specifically contains provisions granting a civilian oversight body access to body-worn camera video.”

There was a mix of opinions present at the hearing. Alexandra Thorn, a member of an organization that fights against surveillance called Digital Fourth, is in opposition to deploying this technology. “The motions approved do not provide the assurance I would want. The police will still have full access to the data,” said Thorn. “[And] although the policies also allow for access to the data by a civilian oversight body, Somerville doesn’t have any civilian oversight body, and it would take years to create one.”

Marea Beeman, criminal defense attorney and criminal justice consultant, supports police body-worn cameras because of her experiences with using them as evidence in court cases. In one case, her client was charged with “disorderly conduct and with assault and battery on a police officer,” but the video evidence showed otherwise. The case was dismissed as a result.

“The video evidence is objective. It cuts both ways,” said Beeman. “If there’s something that has happened in a case that contradicts what your client is telling you, it’s going to be really hard to make that assertion.”

This issue had three decisions attached to it: the accepting of the grant money to be used in a body-worn camera program, the policy, and an impact report.

To accept and expend a $231,635 grant with no new match required, from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to the Police Department for a body-worn camera program.

Yes: Ewen-Campen, Clingan, Strezo, Hardt, McLaughlin, Mbah, and Davis.

No: Link, Scott, Sait, and Wheeler.

Approval of the Technology-Specific Surveillance Use Policy for Body Worn Cameras.

Yes: Clingan, Strezo, Wheeler, Hardt, McLaughlin, Mbah, and Davis.

No: Ewen-Campen, Link, Scott, and Sait.

Approval of the Surveillance Technology Impact Report for Body Worn Cameras.

Yes: Clingan, Strezo, Hardt, McLaughlin, Mbah, and Davis.

No: Ewen-Campen, Link, Scott, Sait, and Wheeler.

Approval of this program means body-worn cameras will begin to be implemented in August of this year.

To view the full policy, go to https://somervillema.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=8144733&GUID=B57A7A7C-8FE0-4C25-A79A-5CAF6205B4CF&Options=&Search=