CITY OF SPRINGFIELD

May 18, 2015

WHEREAS,

the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Joint Labor Management

Committee in the matter of interest arbitration between the City of Springfield
and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 364 (Union) ruled in
favor of the formulation of a Joint Study Committee to the installation of a mobile
video and audio recording system in police cruisers, and

WHEREAS,

the Joint Study Committee is comprised of four bargaining unit employees

appointed by the Union President and four Management officials appointed by
the Commissioner, and

WHEREAS,

the arbitrators ruling stated that the Joint Study Committee shall meet regularly
and develop recommendations to be referred to the parties bargaining committees in
advance of the negotiations for a successor contract to July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016
collective bargaining agreement, and

WHEREAS,

in a 2011 report Community Police Hearing Board contended that the

instillation of cameras would assist the City in protecting the patrol officers from
assaults and unfounded allegations of police misconduct, while also providing
protection to civilians from police misconduct, and

WHEREAS,

the utility of dashboard-mounted cameras is limited to interactions within the

cameras view that take place around vehicles, unlike mobile body-worn cameras,
which accompany police throughout the course of their duties, and

WHEREAS,

the Massachusetts House of Representatives committee on Public Safety and

Homeland Security is currently debating Bill H.2170-An Act promoting the use of
body-worn cameras by law enforcement, and

WHEREAS,

President Barack Obama recently proposed a three-year $263 million

investment package that will increase use of body-worn cameras; in addition to
training measures,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Springfield City Council urges the Joint Study
Committee to develop recommendations for the implementation and use of body-worn
cameras for the Springfield Police Department.