The Plymouth Police Department (PPD) is taking a significant step towards increasing transparency and accountability with the introduction of their new Body-Worn Camera (BWC) program. Partnering with tech company Axon, the PPD aims to equip all its officers with body cameras as part of their everyday uniform starting next Monday, according to their social media post.
The BWC program, which officially goes live at 7:30 a.m. on said date, follows a series of officer trainings that began last Monday under the direction of Axon trainer Matt Johnson, with additional training kicking off on Tuesday. This move comes after years of research, discussions, and securing funding required for the implementation. It should be noted that body-worn cameras are not a mandate from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but a proactive initiative by the local police force.
As part of the new program's introduction, the Town of Plymouth collaborated with the Ranking Officers and Patrolman Unions to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement. Under this agreement, every police officer will receive an extra personal day each year to compensate for their increased responsibilities surrounding the camera program. While the PPD may not be the first to implement such a program, the department's embrace of technology signals a significant commitment to modern policing practices. Despite these strides, nearly 30% of cities and towns in Plymouth County have yet to adopt similar initiatives.
