The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association selected Pittsfield Police Chief Michael J. Wynn as the 2022 recipient of the organization's annual Chief of the Year award. Wynn called the honor the "pinnacle of my professional achievements."

The City Council appeared to support news of the program's start — as well as word that the department was being awarded $166,586.73 in state funds to cover the cost of an initial contract with a body camera vendor. 

Pittsfield is set to receive more than $160,000 from the state to support its proposed body camera program for police officers, though that program had been paused over contract issues involving the police supervisors union.

For months, leaders within the Pittsfield Police Department have repeated the same message: Officers aren't opposed to body cameras. Now, concerns from the local police unions have halted a body camera pilot program. The unions won't say what those concerns are.

Pittsfield Police Captain Gary Traversa told the City Council that it was “not for me to discuss” what about the technology, training or other elements surrounding the department’s exploration of body cameras had triggered concerns from the unions.

After months of community pressure, the Pittsfield Police Department is on the brink of deploying a body camera pilot program with eight officers. Chief Michael Wynn says the department has overcome legal questions about use of body cameras, come to agreements with police unions and is now testing devices.

More than 100 Massachusetts police departments have or have promised the state to start a body camera program. The Pittsfield Police Department is playing catch-up. We look into how other departments are using the technology and answering handling the legal concerns cited by Pittsfield police.