Council approves body camera policy in split votes
The Somerville City Council voted 7-4 to approve a technology-specific use policy for police body-worn cameras and voted 7-4 to accept a $231,635 state grant to fund the program, after a divided public hearing. A companion impact report passed narrower, 6-5.
City Council · Meeting of July 28, 2026
SOMERVILLE — The Somerville City Council voted 7-4 to approve a technology-specific use policy for police body-worn cameras and voted 7-4 to accept a $231,635 state grant to fund the program, after a divided public hearing. A companion impact report passed narrower, 6-5. Mayor Willie Wilson argued delay would cost more, noting camera prices rose "nearly 30 percent" in a month, while Councilor Jon Link countered that the word "accountability" appears in the policy "once and only once." Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen and others cited this spring's 16 layoffs in opposing new costs, while Councilor Matthew McLaughlin invoked a decade of stalled reform efforts.
Council President Lance Davis secured a commitment from Wilson to submit a revised policy draft at the August meeting. No civilian oversight body yet exists in Somerville.
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 2,850 words
Source: the City Council meeting of July 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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