BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Boston Police in some neighborhoods will be hitting the streets with a new piece of equipment.
Beginning Monday, some 200 police officers in Boston, South Boston and Dorchester will start wearing their body cameras.
They will be required to activate them during each and every encounter they have with the public - including traffic stops, searches and police pursuits.
Boston Police Commissioner William Gross feels good about the new additional tech.
"This is good for the community, it's also good for the law enforcement community, so I am looking forward to it," he said.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is also on board. $2 Million Dollars was set aside to buy 400 additional cameras.
This roll-out comes after a year-long pilot program and study - that shows both police and civilians benefit when body cameras are available.
The study found the devices led to slightly fewer complaints against officers and reports of officer use of force, according to city officials.
Researchers from Northeastern University, who examined the yearlong test of the cameras, found that the cameras provided "small but meaningful benefits" in encounters between police and community members.
WBZ NewsRadio James Rojas (@JamesRojasWBZ) reports