East Providence Police Department deploys body worn cameras

All sworn staff members will be trained in their usage

By Mike Rego
Posted 6/9/23

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Police Department announced in a press release Friday, June 9, it has deployed its body worn camera program for officers, starting with immediate effect.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Register to post events


If you'd like to post an event to our calendar, you can create a free account by clicking here.

Note that free accounts do not have access to our subscriber-only content.

Day pass subscribers

Are you a day pass subscriber who needs to log in? Click here to continue.


East Providence Police Department deploys body worn cameras

All sworn staff members will be trained in their usage

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Police Department announced in a press release Friday, June 9, it has deployed its body worn camera program for officers, starting with immediate effect.

The cameras were issued to all frontline patrol officers and patrol sergeants, Traffic Division officers, K9 officers and Community Police officers. All sworn members of the department will be trained in their operation and procedures by the middle of the month.

Over the last year or thereabouts, the department conducted a pilot program where several cameras were tested by officers and staff. Axon Enterprise, Inc., brand cameras were chosen and purchased through the Rhode Island Statewide Body Worn Camera Program earlier this calendar year, 2023, after conducting extensive research into the logistics and future funding of the program.

“Equipping our men and women with body worn cameras is a milestone we have been working towards for some time now,” EPPD Chief Christopher Francesconi said. “This technology will provide an additional level of transparency, accountability and point of view perspective for our community and police officers. 

“The cameras will also significantly enhance our evidence gathering capabilities and lead to more efficient investigations,” Francesconi added.

According to the release, the body worn camera program will "not only assists officers with their investigations but most importantly strengthens police and community relationships by promoting transparency and accountability within our communities."

“The body worn cameras are a tool in modern policing that not only offers protection from false accusations against officers but also helps to document criminal offenses and establishes greater accountability,” Mayor Bob DaSilva, himself a former Pawtucket Police officer, added.

In late 2022, Rhode Island’s United States Congressional delegation announced the procurement of $16 million in grants for the state's 42 local law enforcement agencies to equip approximately 1,773 officers with body worn cameras. East Providence's share totaled $577,500.

The previous incarnation of the City Council, in September of last year, supported a plan submitted by the DaSilva administration and the EPPD to purchase a total of 66 Axon “3” model body cams.

The body camera element in East Providence is part of an overall five-year contract between the city and Axon in the amount of $800,857.56, which also includes the purchase of 66 Axon “7” model tasers, updating that piece of equipment EPPD officers have already been using for several years.

The grant money is for cameras only, which come at a cost of  $1,750 each and with a five-year warranty. Included in the deal is an "equipment refresh" clause. As Francesconi explained to the council at the time, that means at the two-and-a-half and five-year marks of the agreement, Axon will replace all of the cameras with new ones. And, if there is an updated model body cam, the department would receive those during the two “refresh” periods at the same price.

The city was able to use the grant money to account for $115,000 of the $160,000 annual cost through the five-year duration of the contract. To qualify, the EPPD has adopted the state-wide policy on body cam usage, guidelines that the chief said have been “well vetted” by all interested parties.

Body worn camera recordings are subject to the Rhode Island Access to Public Record Act (APRA), Rhode Island General Laws Chapter 38-2. All requests for public access to a body worn camera recording shall be handled in accordance with state law.

2024 by East Bay Media Group

Barrington · Bristol · East Providence · Little Compton · Portsmouth · Tiverton · Warren · Westport
Meet our staff
Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.