- Posted: November 2, 2021 3:23 p.m.
- Last Updated: November 2, 2021 3:30 p.m.
- This page, Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force Meeting, is offered by
- Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
Public Meeting Notice Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force Meeting
Contact for Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force Meeting
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
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Overview of Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force Meeting
The Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force will meet virtually on November 9, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. via Microsoft Teams.
- November 9, 2021, public listening session 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
- November 23, 9:30 a.m., to include listening session 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.
- November 23, 2021, public listening session 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Microsoft Teams
Call in (audio only): +1 857-327-9245,,472863297#
Phone Conference ID: 472 863 297#
Meeting Minutes
LAW ENFORCEMENT BODY CAMERA TASK FORCE MEETING
Date: November 9, 2021
Time: 9:30AM-11:00AM
Members Present:
Asst. U/S Angela F.F. Davis (Chair)
Cpt. Steven McCarthy, State Police (Vice-Chair)
Alyssa Hackett, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services
Chief Thomas W. Fowler, Salisbury Chief of Police
Emiliano Falcon-Morano, Esq., ACLU
Fred Taylor, NAACP
Grace Lee, Esq., People’s United Bank
Hillary Farber, Esq., University of MA School of Law
Israuel Marrero, Boston Police
Kaleigh Marshall, Chelmsford Police Department
Rose King, Esq., Committee for Public Counsel Services
Sheriff Patrick McDermott, Norfolk County Sheriff
Steven J. Brooks, Esq., Brooks & Crawley, LLP
Tim Mitchell, EOTSS
Chief Steve Sargent, Worcester Chief of Police
Sgt. Timothy King, MA Coalition of Police
Members Absent:
DA Michael O’Keefe, Cape & Islands District Attorney
Carmelo Ayuso, MA Minority State Police Officers Association
Steven Carley, Assistant Attorney General
Sheriff McDermott, President of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association
October 26, 2021 Meeting Minutes Vote
Vice-Chair McCarthy made a motion to accept the minutes. Attorney Steven Brooks seconded the motion. The motion carried and the minutes were approved unanimously.
Subcommittee Updates
Board Advisor Dan Nakamoto (EOPSS) reported that the Privacy and Record-Keeping subcommittee met last week. They are pulling together research, policies and recommendations from national groups. The next meeting is scheduled for November 16th. The Technology and Procurement subcommittee’s first meeting is scheduled for next week.
Vice-Chair McCarthy reported that the Training, Supervision, and Disciplinary Review subcommittee is currently re-scheduling their initial meeting. They are beginning to fill their SharePoint folder with a number of laws and best practices on training, disciplinary review, and sanction.
Topics Not Reasonably Anticipated
Chairwoman Davis stated that she has been receiving public comment through the portal on the Task Force website and they are available for members to review in SharePoint.
Chairwoman Davis also mentioned the outreach to the public. She stated that every Massachusetts Chief of Police was sent a communication about the listening sessions. Attorney Hillary Farber also shared it with the Suffolk Lawyers for Justice and the National Lawyers Guild.
Public Input Listening Session
Stephen Roche, a third associate city solicitor in the Springfield MA Law Department
Attorney Roche stated that 500 officers in Springfield, MA are currently wearing cameras. He further stated that the process began in 2019. The full system was launched last fall in 2020. He noted that Springfield’s Chief of Police had concerns around Section 104E of the Task Force’s enabling legislation and he will be following up with more detail in written comment. He noted that House Bill H1874 would strike the prohibition that would prevent an officer from accessing or viewing any recording of an incident involving the officer before the officer is to make a statement about the incident. Attorney Roche noted that the Supreme Judicial Court recently issued an opinion dealing with body cameras that he will forward to the Task Force. With respect to the value of officers viewing body camera footage prior to making a statement, Attorney Roche stated an officer’s report may focus on one aspect that was the officer’s primary focus but the video will capture that there were others things of importance and worth mentioning in a report.
Chief Tom Fowler stated that he uploaded a copy of the referenced case (Comm. v. Yusuf) in the shared drive under “pertinent cases”.
Chief Matthew Sonnabend, Chief of Police, Barnstable
Chief Sonnabend stated that officers should review and retain body camera footage whenever a member of the public was involved and if an officer does not view it, he is not doing his due diligence.
Sgt. Tim King asked if we can adjourn meetings before public comment begins. Attorney Suleyken Walker (EOPSS) noted that she will look into this and report back.
Fred Taylor made a motion to adjourn at 11:00AM. Vice-Chair McCarthy seconded the motion. The motion carried and all voted in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 11:00AM.
Agenda
- Call to order and attendance
- Vote to approve minutes
- Subcommittee updates
- Topics not reasonably anticipated/other
- Public comment and listening session
- Adjournment