CPD Body Camera Negotiations Stalled Over Stipend Disagreements

Negotiations between the Cambridge Police Department and two unions to implement body cameras were held up for more than a year over a disagreement on stipends for officers to cover maintenance costs.

The dispute between CPD, the Cambridge Police Patrol Officers Association, and the Superior Officers Union was over how much officers should received for the stipend proposed by the CCPOA to cover officers’ costs for camera maintenance and training.

The discussions were put on hold for three months as CPD and CCPOA negotiated a new contract for officers after the prior contract expired on July 1.

Now, though the parties are back at the negotiating table over the stipends, there remains no agreement on the amount — more than 19 months after the Cambridge City Council first approved the cameras.

CPD Commissioner Christine A. Elow wrote in an emailed statement that she hopes to reach an agreement with both unions soon.

“The Cambridge Police Department has selected a vendor for body cameras and begun the purchasing process, as well as preparations to ensure our facilities are ready to go live,” she wrote. “While I hesitate to give a specific date, I promise to keep our community updated.”

Cambridge City Councilor Ayesha M. Wilson said the Council has repeatedly confirmed their support for body cameras, and has passed all the requisite legislation to begin their roll-out.

“This is between the union and the department,” she said. “This is something that has been agreed upon, has been passed. It’s being worked out — the funding is there for it.”

“Everything’s a go. It’s just the negotiations themselves,” she added.

Both CPD and the CPPOA have also expressed their support for body cameras. CPPOA president Christopher Sullivan stated that police “are supportive of the deployment of body-worn cameras” in a July statement.

A former union employee herself, Wilson said she believes both parties are working earnestly to implement body cameras on the force.

“I know that this is something that both sides want, right? Like the Cambridge Police Department wants it. The community wants it. The union wants it,” she said. “It’s just really working out what that looks like.”

“I really have the faith that they’re going to come to an agreement soon,” she added.

—Staff writer Sally E. Edwards can be reached at sally.edwards@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @sallyedwards04 or on Threads @sally_edwards06.

—Staff writer Asher J. Montgomery can be reached at asher.montgomery@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @asherjmont or on Threads @asher_montgomery.