Springfield Police Department marks fifth anniversary of body-worn camera program

Yahoo

2 days ago

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Springfield Police Department marked the fifth anniversary of its body-worn camera (BWC) program, celebrating a milestone in transparency, accountability, and public safety.
Launched during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic on June 3, 2020, Springfield's program made the city the first major municipality in Massachusetts to implement a body-worn camera system fully.
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All sworn officers and supervisors, just under 500, are equipped with cameras during duty, contributing to over 115,000 hours of recorded footage to date. Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers said the cameras have made a significant difference in community relations and policing outcomes.
'The body cameras help us in several different areas, from police-community relations to aiding prosecutions by the District Attorney's Office,' said Akers. 'The use of the cameras has increased our officers' accountability and decreased the amount of citizen complaints we receive. Body-worn cameras are an essential tool to continue to build trust within our community. There was a time I couldn't imagine having to wear body cameras, now, especially for our younger officers, I can't imagine a time they wouldn't want to wear them.'
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno credited the program with strengthening public trust and modernizing law enforcement efforts in Springfield.
'I want to commend our Springfield Police Department, led by Superintendent Larry Akers, for their continued belief, support, and investment in our body-worn camera program,' Sarno said. 'All officers and supervisors, totaling just under 500, now wear the body-worn cameras, which have greatly enhanced our public safety aspects and brought increased transparency and accountability on police and public interactions, including hours of video footage of our brave and dedicated police officers saving lives.'
The program began with 12 officers and supervisors who were first outfitted with Getac body-worn cameras in June 2020. By October of the same year, the entire department was equipped and trained. Now, the training is fully integrated into the Springfield Police Academy's curriculum, ensuring that recruits are ready to use the technology immediately upon graduation.
In spring 2025, the department transitioned from Getac cameras to Axon body-worn cameras, continuing its commitment to using up-to-date technology. Uninformed officers are required to keep their cameras on throughout their shifts, with automatic activation triggered by the activation of emergency vehicle lights or manual activation by the officer. Each device captures footage beginning 30 seconds before activation, with audio recording starting at the time of activation.
However, there are specific limitations in place to protect privacy. Officers do not use the cameras inside schools (except the Quebec Unit), during certain medical emergencies, in private residences without permission or a warrant, or when dealing with confidential informants. Additionally, the devices do not have facial recognition or night vision capabilities.
As the department moves forward, the body-worn camera program will remain a core component of its strategy to foster trust and transparency between officers and the community.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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