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Date: 6/26/2023
SPRINGFIELD — It has been three years since Springfield implemented its body-worn camera program and, according to the Police Department, it will not be going away.
Police Capt. Edward Geier has overseen the program since its infancy.
Geier noted that the program was worked on prior to its official launch on June 3, 2020, however, not all members of the Police Department could be trained on it at once. By the end of October 2020, approximately 500 officers had body cameras, Geier said.
Since then, he shared that the program has done everything it was expected to, such as documenting and recording police and citizen interactions.
With non-criminal and criminal events, or where there is an interview with a victim or suspect, the body cameras are utilized in the work, he explained.
Some of the challenges experienced with the program have been adjusting to new policies and changes a subset of officers brought in. Geier said some officers were “fearful” and did not want to “buy in” to the program at all. “I am happy to say, as time [has] gone on, [officers] fully support and value it,” he shared.
Geier said there are about 480 sworn in officers in the Springfield Police Department. Everyone from superintendents to graduates from the academy wear a body camera, he shared.
With the documented city interactions, Geier said it is “amazing” how often situations involve “he said, she said” scenarios. As the commanding officer, he reads the complaint form and watches video, often to find out that what was written is not what happened.
“It helps build the officers’ belief in the system,” he shared.
The body-worn cameras are activated in two ways: Officers can manually press a button on the camera, or when the cruiser activates its emergency lights, it connects to a Bluetooth signal. Geier explained that they do not want the driving officers to be distracted by activating the camera, so this allows it to already be rolling upon arrival.
Geier shared that there was one instance when the camera system went down and something serious happened, however, everything was still recorded and stored.
After footage is captured, it is offloaded to a docking server and then to a cloud.
Geier said there was also a concern when the department lost the internet. Again, he noted that the officers still wore their cameras and once the internet was restored, the footage was captured and was able to be obtained.
Geier shared that there are technological glitches with the cameras.
In the past three years, he said about 30 cameras out of approximately 500 have had to be replaced. Geier noted that there has not been any time where the camera failed during a significant event.
In the Springfield Public Schools, the resource officers do not use cameras in their day-to-day operations. However, if an officer gets dispatched to a school, they can use it.
Although policy changes have been made regarding discretion, he shared that they try to record on every call, including medical emergencies. “It’s much better to have video and never need it, than to not have it and need it,” Geier said.
He went on to say that components could be redacted if necessary. For instance, if video footage must be released, it can be redacted for privacy reasons, among others.
Without the footage, Geier said there could be a “lack of evidence” and other evidence on its own may not “provide proper context.”
The initial cost of the program — $2.5 million — was the largest, with $1 million of that funding coming from the Department of Justice and $1.5 million coming from city funds. Now, he said the only expense is annual storage.
Currently, the body-worn camera program is in a five-year contract with Getac, a computer manufacturing company. Geier shared that the Springfield Police Department chose Getac after representatives came in and gave a presentation and the officers tested the equipment, among other companies. When that contract expires, Geier said they will negotiate an extension or go with another company.
“The program will not be going away,” Geier said.
He noted that the purpose and use of it is “dead on.”
From an administrator standpoint, Geier shared that citizen complaints have “decreased dramatically” because the cameras are used.
Although Geier said he does not have any statistical data, he noted that the program has also been “tremendous assistance” for the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, as people can take plea deals rather than taking it to trial.
Reminder Publishing reached out to the Hamdpen District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s Office for comment but did not hear back as of press time.
State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez (D-Springfield), a strong advocate for body cam usage, shared his thoughts on the program and how it has worked out thus far.
Gonzalez said body cameras have become a “popular tool” for law enforcement agencies.
In Springfield particularly — like Geier mentioned — officers who were originally against it are now behind it, Gonzalez noted.
“It has increased transparency and accountability,” he added.
Gonzalez shared that the program helps solve accusations, which he believes has had a decrease thereof.
“The program is running smoothly,” he said.
Gonzalez shared that it has been challenging trying to explain to the general public how they can obtain footage. Before being released, he noted that police must ensure the footage is ethical and does not infringe on anyone’s rights.
“I don’t think that information is understood,” he said.
Overall, he shared that the body cameras are an “unbiased” account of an incident that can prevent accusations and help police officers remain safe against allegations or complaints.