Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, among police departments receiving grant for body-worn cameras

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration awarded more than $4 million in state grant funds to 64 municipalities across the Commonwealth to provide departments with resources to start or expand Body-Worn Camera programs. These grants are the first in a five-year, $20 million capital grant program which is expected to deploy 9,000 body-worn cameras across Massachusetts’ cities and towns.

“We are glad to provide communities with these resources for body-worn camera programs, because they improve public safety, strengthen community-police relations, and enhance the values of transparency and accountability,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “This technology offers municipalities a valuable tool in support of municipal police in their efforts to ensure public safety and transparency in their communities”

“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,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.

In June 2021, the Administration announced the availability of $20 million in capital funding over five years to support a body-worn camera grant program, which is managed by the Office of Grants and Research within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The grant application process requires each municipal department to submit a comprehensive deployment plan that describes a deliberate and phased plan to deploy the technology, as well as specific ways the proposed program will enhance the agency’s mission.

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.

“Body-worn camera programs also provide law enforcement agencies with an important tool to improve training and advance best practices. This grant program and the resulting implementation of advanced technology will improve safety for police and communities across the Commonwealth,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy.

The picture above is Officer Joseph Bois from Somerset PD when they began their body cam program.

The 64 municipal police departments selected to receive an award are as follows:

Amesbury Police Department
$48,000.00

Andover Police Department
$102,484.00

Arlington Police Department
$43,035.00

Ashburnham Police Department
$28,064.00

Bridgewater Police Department
$70,398.00

Brookfield Police Department
$9,560.00

Burlington Police Department
$184,282.01

Chelsea Police Department
$107,400.00

Dartmouth Police Department
$78,671.20

Dighton Police Department
$27,350.00

Duxbury Police Department
$55,755.00

East Brookfield Police Department
$10,733.94

Easthampton Police Department
$40,000.00

Easton Police Department
$48,767.00

Essex Police Department
$43,910.50

Fall River Police Department
$201,324.20

Foxborough Police Department
$105,010.00

Georgetown Police Department
$12,525.92

Grafton Police Department
$40,941.00

Great Barrington Police Department
$19,817.00

Greenfield Police Department
$66,168.63

Groveland Police Department
$12,905.74

Hamilton Police Department
$31,437.00

Hatfield Police Department
$5,638.00

Lancaster Police Department
$31,730.00

Lawrence Police Department
$249,890.00

Leicester Police Department
$40,845.00

Lowell Police Department
$29,935.00

Malden Police Department
$95,024.00

Manchester by the Sea Police Department
$54,655.00

New Bedford Police Department
$249,041.00

North Brookfield Police Department
$9,994.00

North Reading Police Department
$101,994.98

Peabody Police Department
$231,340.40

Randolph Police Department
$106,700.00

Raynham Police Department
$54,030.00

Rehoboth Police Department
$37,711.97

Rochester Police Department
$31,701.00

Rowley Police Department
$4,207.96

Rutland Police Department
$5,329.00

Salem Police Department
$79,834.00

Seekonk Police Department
$44,619.00

Sheffield Police Department
$30,843.00

Southbridge Police Department
$55,780.00

Southwick Police Department
$26,189.70

Spencer Police Department
$54,672.00

Sterling Police Department
$14,827.00

Stow Police Department
$34,670.00

Sturbridge Police Department
$44,430.00

Sudbury Police Department
$35,500.00

Swansea Police Department
$69,816.00

Taunton Police Department
$162,488.00

Templeton Police Department
$24,500.00

Topsfield Police Department
$27,540.58

Wakefield Police Department
$74,712.00

Ware Police Department
$25,405.00

Warren Police Department
$31,555.00

Wayland Police Department
$48,400.00

Westborough Police Department
$16,803.00

Westport Police Department
$49,370.00

Wilbraham Police Department
$60,326.00

Wilmington Police Department
$49,955.00

Winchendon Police Department
$31,870.00

Worcester Police Department
$250,000.00