Hundreds of Boston police officers are wearing body cameras. The move came after a 2016 pilot program, which was met with opposition from the union representing officers. Some advocates in the community said what the cameras pick up could build a bridge between police and neighborhoods.

As part of what Boston Police called a “slow rollout,” officers in Dorchester and South Boston, along with members of the youth violence strike force, wear body cameras daily. The cameras are on during situations like traffic stops, prisoner transports and arrests.

Segun Idowu, co-organizer of the Boston Police Camera Action Team, said the community group pushed for the body cameras for five years.

“For us, it’s also important that in showing that there are disparities in how police treat different communities,” Idowu told WGBH News.

“The fact that the youth violence task force is wearing these cameras is critically important,” he added. “When we interviewed members of the community, they said it was this unit, the gang unit, the drug unit, that were the source of the problem. So that fact, that at least one of these units is wearing the cameras, is a major step forward.”

Boston Police said officers can turn the cameras off for confidentiality. Idowu wanted a full roll-out of the program, but said this limited use is a start.

“We would love to see a full program immediately. To us, we already had a pilot program where we identified several districts where we were going to have cameras,” Idowu said.

The Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, the union representing officers, had opposed the program in the past, but said it will comply with the rollout.

“I think that it’s creating a step towards safety and better accountability, but I think that there always should be more discussion around it,” Dorchester resident Melvin Nguyen told WGBH News.

Longtime Dorchester resident Debbie Chambers said what is caught on tape could help the police too.

“We get to see what the officers deal with and maybe become empathetic towards them, not just criticize them,” Chambers said.