The grant is part of more than $4 million in state grant funds the Baker-Polito Administration awarded to 64 municipalities to start or expand body-worn camera programs.
Other police departments in Central Massachusetts receiving funds are: Ashburnham, $28,064; Brookfield, $9,560; East Brookfield, $10,733; Grafton, $40,941; Lancaster, $31,730; Leicester, $40,845; North Brookfield, $9,994; Rutland, $5,329; Southbridge, $55,780; Spencer, $54,672; Sterling, $14,827; Sturbridge, $44,430; Templeton, $24,500; Ware, $25,405; Warren, $31,555; Westborough, $16,803; and Winchendon, $31,870.
The funds, distributed by the state Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, will purchase 2,859 body cameras, bringing the total of equipped officers statewide to 3,634.
State Sen. Michael O. Moore, D- Millbury, sponsored the $20 million initiative as a part of the fiscal 2022 bond bill.
“The Administration is pleased to partner with local law enforcement agencies to provide the resources and technology needed to improve public safety and nurture strong relationships with the communities they serve,” Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito added.
Worcester intends to implement a body camera program by the end of this year. Body cameras have been a topic of debate in city politics. While some, including Police Chief Steven M. Sargent, have said that body cameras will give an objective view of police interactions with citizens and will protect both police and the public, others have expressed concerns over whether the videos will be over scrutinized and whether the city has the ability to be transparent with the data.
Sargent said the department is looking forward to implementing the program.
Currently, 10% of Massachusetts municipal departments operate a body-worn camera program. However, a poll conducted by the Massachusetts Chief of Police Association indicated that 75% of departments in both major cities and smaller communities are interested in starting a program.
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