New Bedford police to begin using body cameras

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — New Bedford police will be adding body worn cameras to their department after recommendations from both the mayor’s office and an outside consulting department.

Chief Paul Oliveira says the rollout to officers has already begun as they begin to work through the training needed to operate the cameras.

Officials expect the department to be fully equipped by around mid-October.

The cameras will be on lease to the department for the next five years, with a price tag of just below one point $9 million, approved by the city council.

According to the departments guidelines for cameras, any officer involved in law enforcement activity will wear a camera.

It explains any plain-clothes officers or undercover police will not be required to wear the cameras, as well as a range of other times when a camera may need to be turned off, like when entering a restroom, or when around an explosive device.

The department’s guidelines do explain cameras will be on during any traffic stops.

With single day trainings starting last week, several officers in New Bedford are already wearing the cameras.

The department also posted its full guidelines for wearing cameras online.