Revere council hears plan and costs for police body-worn camera program

The Revere police chief told the City Council on Nov. 24 that the department has completed an implementation plan and negotiated a 14‑page policy for a body‑worn camera program and expects the total program cost to be "just over $1,100,000 over 5 years." He said the department has applied for a newly available state grant (applications due Dec. 3) that could cover as much as $250,000 of the first year’s costs.

The chief outlined a phased rollout: policy issuance in January, roll‑call training and a small pilot of three to five volunteer officers in February and March, equipment set‑up in late February to early March, hardware delivery and departmentwide training in March–April 2026 and full deployment in May 2026. The system will use cloud‑based storage and docking stations for equipment, and Lieutenant Turner will head training for the program.

Councilors asked about pay and ongoing costs. Councilor Angela Zwaja asked whether officers would receive a stipend; the chief replied, "No. It was already negotiated in the last contract." On annual operating costs after the initial period he said the city should expect "ballpark about 215,000 a year" for recurring costs after the first year. The chief also said Lieutenant Ramboli will lead a new video‑evidence unit responsible for storage and redaction software.

Council members generally expressed support for the program’s transparency benefits but pressed for clarity about the grant outcome and long‑term budget impacts. The presentation was placed on file for council records.