police vest

Massachusetts Lawmakers Debate Proposal to Create Statewide Rules for Police Body Cameras

The proposal includes a controversial measure that would exempt police footage from being accessed and released through public records laws.

A new bill proposing the creation of a task force to develop statewide standards for the use of police body cameras in Massachusetts is earning mixed reviews from law enforcement groups and organizations concerned with public transparency.

The measure, introduced by Democratic Rep. Denise Provost, would establish a task force made up of law enforcement officials, state lawmakers, lawyers and representatives of the ACLU and NAACP.

The group would develop “minimum requirements” for the procurement and use of body-worn cameras by officers as well as standards for the storage and transfer of audio and video recordings made by the cameras, according to the bill.

Provost’s proposal would not make it mandatory for all local police departments to use body cameras. The bill would also exempt “any recordings made by a body camera, dashboard camera or any similar device by a law enforcement officer” from public records laws that allow citizens to request information from the government.

In a joint committee hearing about the bill on July 12, leaders of law enforcement groups said they did not support the creation of a uniform code because of the differences between urban and rural police departments, the Statehouse News Service reported.

"Areas such as Boston, Brockton, Chelsea, Worcester and Springfield have different issues and needs with respect to their citizenry, than communities such as Barre, Hadley, or Stockbridge,” Larry Calderone, vice president of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, said. “While all communities strive to protect their citizens and their rights, a one-size-fits all approach to body cameras is not the best answer."

The Massachusetts Coalition of Police also requested that the committee give the bill an unfavorable report, according to Statehouse News Service. The Massachusetts Bar Association, however, said they supported Provost’s proposal, citing the nine police departments who use body cameras in some form.

The bill also faced opposition from Secretary of State William Galvin, who is Massachusetts’ top record-keeper as secretary of state. He asked in a written statement that the bill remove the exemption language because it defeats the purpose of body cameras: to improve public transparency.

“Allowing police departments to withhold any footage captured on these cameras would interfere with the public’s ability to oversee their own government,” Galvin wrote, according to Statehouse News Service. “This is an issue of particular importance to minority communities, and withholding videos of police interactions would only breed mistrust.”

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and ACLU of Massachusetts also voiced their opposition to the exemption.

“The public has a right to see these videos, with redactions if necessary to protect personal privacy,” Kade Crockford, the director of the technology for liberty program at the ACLU of Massachusetts, told The Boston Globe.

Provost said the clause was created out of a desire to protect crime victims, bystanders and people who were mistaken for suspects. Body camera footage is “really meant to be evidence, not public entertainment," which can happen when videos are released, Provost told the committee.

No decision has been made on the bill’s future yet, but the number of police departments in the state that are considering mandatory body cameras continues to grow. The latest is Springfield, which hopes to have a supplier by the fall.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • ResponderLink

    ResponderLink

    Shooter Detection Systems (SDS), an Alarm.com company and a global leader in gunshot detection solutions, has introduced ResponderLink, a groundbreaking new 911 notification service for gunshot events. ResponderLink completes the circle from detection to 911 notification to first responder awareness, giving law enforcement enhanced situational intelligence they urgently need to save lives. Integrating SDS’s proven gunshot detection system with Noonlight’s SendPolice platform, ResponderLink is the first solution to automatically deliver real-time gunshot detection data to 911 call centers and first responders. When shots are detected, the 911 dispatching center, also known as the Public Safety Answering Point or PSAP, is contacted based on the gunfire location, enabling faster initiation of life-saving emergency protocols.