Stoughton Police officers will begin wearing this Getac BC-04-4K UHD Rugged Body Camera on Sunday, March 30. (Photo Courtesy Stoughton Police Department)
STOUGHTON — Chief Donna McNamara is pleased to announce that the Stoughton Police Department is launching its body-worn camera program this Sunday.
Sgt. Ryan Flanagan developed an extensive training program that covered the department’s body-worn camera policy and how to operate the cameras. All Stoughton Police officers have undergone the requisite training and will now wear the body-worn cameras while on duty, beginning Sunday, March 30.
As part of the program, all sworn officers will be outfitted with a Getac BC-04-4K UHD Rugged Body Camera. The cameras will be attached to the officer’s uniform and will be visible to the public.
All patrol officers, school resource officers, and the court prosecutor will wear body cameras when they are interacting with the public. Detectives and administrative staff will wear them as required by their duties that day but will have cameras available when outside the police station.
Officers will activate their body-worn cameras during routine calls for service, investigatory stops, traffic stops, foot and vehicle pursuits, emergency driving situations, situations that would gather evidence to enhance prosecution, and situations as required by the department’s policy.
The Stoughton Police Department’s body-worn camera policy establishes guidelines for the proper use, management, storage, and retrieval of video and audio data recorded by a body-worn camera during the program. The policy was developed with input from the patrol officer and superior officers unions and contains best police practices gleaned from other Massachusetts police departments that have successfully implemented body-worn camera programs.
“Our body-worn camera program has received overwhelming support from officers at all levels of the department,” said Deputy Chief Nathan Derby.
The program’s purpose is to continue fostering trust and positive community relationships by providing greater transparency. Along with greater transparency, body cameras can promote de-escalation, resolve citizen complaints, and provide a valuable training tool.
Stoughton Police received a state grant to support the program. The department was awarded $249,425 from the Healey-Driscoll Administration as part of the Law Enforcement Body-Worn Camera Program. The state awarded over $3 million in grant funds to 32 local police departments in July 2024 to implement or expand body-worn camera programs across Massachusetts.
“The implementation of body-worn cameras is a significant step forward in our commitment to transparency, accountability, and community trust,” Chief McNamara said. “These cameras will enhance officer safety, provide an objective record of interactions, and help strengthen the relationship between our officers and the community we serve.”
President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing placed a priority on body camera research and camera programs. More recently, a 2020 study of the Boston Police body-worn camera program showed a 63.6% reduction in use of force reports and a 50.5% reduction in citizen complaints for officers wearing body-worn cameras compared to the 12 months before implementing their program.
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