All MA State Troopers Finally Given Body Cameras After Overtime Scandal

From Associated Press:

"The State Police announced on Dec. 16 that all of its troopers have been assigned body cameras, a reform that was ordered in 2018 after the agency was rocked by an overtime scandal.

All 2,200 of the agency's sworn personnel now have body cameras and training on how to use them, officials said. The agency has also installed cameras in 800 cruisers, with 200 still awaiting cameras.

Col. Christopher Mason, superintendent of the State Police, said the cameras would document troopers' interaction with suspects, victims and the public.

The cameras were part of a series of reforms announced in 2018 by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and police leaders. The reforms also included disbanding Troop E, which patrolled a stretch of the Massachusetts Turnpike from Boston to the New York state border.

The changes were ordered after some troopers assigned to Troop E were found to have taken thousands of hours in overtime pay for shifts they had not actually worked."

This should also provide protection to all parties involved in police-public encounters.