Officer-worn cameras, more commonly known as body cameras, assist officers in the performance of their duties. Not only do the cameras serve as useful tools for recording evidence, more importantly, they help to ensure that there is an additional layer of professionalism, transparency and accountability by documenting officer performance and interactions with the public. Body-worn cameras (BWC) are quickly becoming standard-issued equipment for police officers throughout the United States. In Cambridge, the program had been years in the making and the product of careful planning, community engagement, and collaboration with stakeholders.
The implementation of the program has been a top priority for the Cambridge Police and the City Council, particularly following the tragic officer-involved fatal shooting in early 2023. That incident underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, and public trust in policing—principles that remain at the heart of the department and this initiative.
The Cambridge Police Department began the rollout of its BWC program in March 2025 following a thorough procurement, including testing of different BWC models, and policy development. The program includes equipment, storage, maintenance and fulfillment. These small, wearable devices not only capture video footage but also audio recordings, offering a more complete picture of events during incidents.
By early April 2025, all sworn officers in the Department -- including Command Staff, Supervisors, Patrol Officers, and Detectives – are expected to be trained and equipped with body cameras as they perform their duties. The implementation of the technology follows a comprehensive training and policy review for officers to use the technology responsibly and effectively.
As the Department encounters new information along the way with regards to body camera hardware, establishing best practices and policy, we will continue to evolve and bring the community the best Body-Worn Camera program possible.
Activation & Recording
Body-Worn Cameras are intended to record police interactions with members of the public. These recordings serve many purposes including enhancing agency transparency, accountability, and public trust while documenting emergency responses and crime scenes as well as collecting evidence.
According to the Cambridge Police Policy, “whenever possible, sworn members who activate a BWC should notify any person(s) that they are being recorded with video and audio by a BWC as close to the inception of the encounter as is reasonably possible. Sworn members should keep their BWCs activated until the event is completed to ensure the integrity of the recording.”
The cameras are to be activated during all calls for service, including traffic stops, during the execution of a search or arrest warrant, and during any interaction where an officer reasonably believes should be records to enhance police transparency.
Officer Accountability
The Department recognizes public interest in access to body camera footage as a measure to police oversight and accountability, and the Department holds this video evidence and the privacy of the community in the highest regard.
The Cambridge Police Body Worn Camera Unit – which consists of sworn officers and professional staff -- audits and documents BWC recordings on a quarterly basis for accountability of actions and accuracy of reporting.
Sworn officers will be subject to progressive discipline, up to and including termination, for repeated or flagrant violations of the BWC policy on camera activation.
Requesting Body-Worn Camera Footage
Under Massachusetts law, every person has a right to access public government records. To submit a Public Records request for body-worn camera footage once it is deployed in early April, please visit https://www.cambridgema.gov/iwantto/submitapublicrecordsrequest.