The Manager's report back on body-worn cameras

Response to Policy Order AR 25-57

The Cambridge Police Department acknowledges and appreciates the City Council’s continued emphasis on transparency and accountability, as reflected in Policy Order 2025-129 and Awaiting Report 25-57. In response to the Policy Order and Awaiting Report, the Department will begin working with its partners to establish a policy or procedure which would prioritize the release of video from incidents that are of heightened public interest.

The Department hopes to establish a framework for prioritizing the public release of body-worn camera (BWC) video in accordance with the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. c. 66; 950 CMR 32.00). The Department’s goal is to enhance public trust, protect individual privacy, and preserve the integrity of ongoing investigations while ensuring that video from significant incidents is made available to the community as promptly and responsibly as possible.

Under a proposed framework, the Department would like to release body-worn camera footage within 30 days of an incident with heightened public interest independent of whether or not the Department has received a request, when legally permissible including:

non-fatal Officer-Involved Shootings, use of force incidents resulting in serious bodily injury, large-scale public events such as protests or crowd disturbances, where video may help address community concerns, and situations that draw widespread public attention or circulate widely on social media.

The Department’s proposed framework also contemplates that any such release of information would be conducted in compliance with Massachusetts state law, including limiting or withholding information that may pertain to a juvenile, victim (including an officer when they are a victim), witness, injured individual, and/or uninvolved bystander. In addition, the Department would withhold footage if its release could compromise an active criminal investigation, affect a defendant’s right to a fair trial, or reveal investigative methods.

ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO 125 SIXTH STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS 02142 The Department’s proposed framework also accounts for certain situations when there may be operational constraints that influence the timeframe for public release. These include, but are not limited to, incidents involving substantial volumes of footage or multiple camera angles that require significant review and redaction time. When delays are unavoidable due to privacy considerations, investigative needs, or workload limitations, the Department would provide an explanation and a revised estimate for when the footage can be released.

Finally, the Department assures the Council that it will fulfill any and all of its bargaining obligations before implementing any changes to its policies or procedures.