Body-cam updates
At the last CC meeting, during the mayor’s report to the council, G King asked about the progress of the body-cam program. Much like the last three times I heard the mayor make more excuses and then said we won't see body-cams till 2024. See for yourself.
http://vod-framingham.cablecast.tv/CablecastPublicSite/show/2819?channel=1
38:00 to 41:10
I give King and Steiner some credit for at least asking about them. As they must have read that the little town of Southborough got all they need and it didn't cost the Town a dime... why you ask? because of the grant money they got from the State. Read about Southborough here at the MWDN (paywall) https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/story/news/local/2023/04/03/southborough-mass-police-begin-body-camera-program/70076176007/
We've all seen the body-cam footage of the most recent cop killings and cops saving lives. We shouldn't have to prove our point any longer. The people want them, most honest cops want them, most lawyers, judges and politicians want them, so why is it taking so long?
The proposal that was given to the Mayor months ago.. at a live public meeting, is being denied by the mayor’s office. I have since filed an appeal for the document that supposedly spells out the costs. Why in anyone's world is that such a state secret? Is this what transparency and accountability looks like? I hope not. The city lawyers came up cockeyed reasons why the document cannot be seen.
So the State has generated a lengthy set of regulations for body-cam use, how to buy, storage, how to use, etc. See it here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/law-enforcement-body-camera-final-report/download
So, keep in mind that FPD can use law enforcement trust fund money to buy the cameras but instead will be asking the tax payer to flip the bill. All because this administration with council and the past administration and council did not do their jobs when they could and should have.
If you believe as I do that body-cams cannot wait until next year, please send an email to the mayor@framinghamme.gov and in the subject box just write Body-Cams Now, he'll figure it out.
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 5:14 PM
6 Comments
6 Comments:
Is there anything we can do to move this forward faster? Seems the police chief and the mayor are not big proponents of this
They both have said they are in favor of body-cams. The Mayor, during the last election said he was in favor of them. The Cheif and his second in command have told me that the FPD wants them.
But for some unknown reason they just ignored the grant application years ago now.
I heard a LT say on TV he thought it was the union who was slowing things down.
Honestly, I don't know who is lying and how is not.
The fact that the body-cam "proposal" given to the Mayor is not available through a FOIA request indicates to me ... their hiding something. Keeping in mind that budget season is almost here so that body-cam "proposal" will have to be presented to the finance sub-committee very soon.
I'm thinking a picket line in front of the Mayor's office is the only thing left for me to do.
jim do you really think charlie was for the body cams or was it just another campaign promise with no intention of ever being fulfilled?
Call me naive... but with all the publicity around police reform in this State and at the State House, I did believe he was in favor of them. Especially since there were grants available. It's in his best political interest to insist FPD get the body-cams.
Framingham did not even apply for the grant to pay for this? Why is that? Was their intent to never have our officers wear body cams? Why else would they not even apply for what amounts to "free money"?
Did not even apply... for the past 3 years. Even going back to 2016 when the first round of grants was offered for body cams. Both the past and present Mayor did not get the e mail about police reform. Nor did the last two Police Chiefs. In my opinion, the lack of awareness in police reform by the Mayor, Police Chief, and the city council all share responsibility for not pursuing the grants years ago. So unless the council forces the PC to use trust fund money to buy the body cams…. the taxpayer will have to pay up.
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