Somerville proposes police oversight committee

The mayor of Somerville is proposing a police oversight committee.

LIVE IN SOMERVILLE WITH THE NEWMOVES BEING MADE THERE TODAY.GOOD MORNING.THE SERA: GOOD MORNING.THE MAYOR OF SOMERVILLE WANTS TODECLARE A LOCAL STATE OFEMERGENCY, SAYING THAT RACISM ISA THREAT TO PUBLIC HEALTH ANDSAFETY, AND HE ISOUTLINING SEVERAL STEPS.THE MAYOR IS CALLING FOR THEESTABLISHMENT OF A CIVILIANOVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO REVIEWUSE OF FORCE, OFFICERMISCONDUCT, AND OTHER POLICIES.THE MAYOR WILL PURSUEELIMINATING INTERNALINVESTIGATIONS OFFICERS WITHINTHE DEPARTMENT, WHICH MAYORCARTCURTATONE DESCRIBES ASINHERENT CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.AND THE CITY WILL FORMALLYWITHDRAW FROM A FEDERAL PROGRAMTHAT PROVIDES MILITARY WEAPONRYTO LOCAL POLICE.MAYOR CURTATONE IS ALSO PLANNINGTO PUSH FOR POLICE OFFICERS TOWEAR BODY CAMERAS.HE SAYS THEY MUST BECOME ASTANDARD PART OF POLICE WORK.THE ISSUE OF BODY CAMERAS INSOMERVILLE HAS BEEN BATTLED OVERSINCE 2015.THE MAYOR SAYS ALL OF THESECHANGES ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE HEFEELS NO ONE SHOULD FEAR FOR