The Delta Police Department is expanding its use of body-worn cameras to include some front-line patrol officers, starting in February 2023.
At its Dec. 14 meeting, the a pilot deployment of body-worn cameras for the DPDsa国际传媒檚 patrol services section, which will begin with two officers from each of the departmentsa国际传媒檚 four platoons/shifts being equipped with the cameras for six months, followed by a review.
The move follows an on expanding the departmentsa国际传媒檚 use of the devices. The DPD became the first department in B.C. to deploy the cameras operationally, starting with its gang interdiction team in May 2021 and later expanding to the traffic section sa国际传媒� a move that was made permanent on June 22 of this year.
According to a news release on Monday (Dec. 19), the community consultation found that 93 per cent of respondents support expanding the program to the front-line patrol officers, while 6.7 per cent oppose the move.
Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Laura Cassidy and TFNsa国际传媒檚 executive council also supported expanding the DPDsa国际传媒檚 use of body-warn cameras.
This will mark the first department in B.C. to use such cameras on front-line patrol and general duty officers.
sa国际传媒漁ur decision focuses on fostering community trust in police while allowing officers to do their job safely,sa国际传媒� police board chair Mayor George Harvie said.
The cost for the patrol pilot project will be approximately $6,400, primarily for the purchase of four additional cameras and related equipment such as chargers.
According to the department, the benefits and expected outcomes include: enhanced transparency, public trust and confidence in policing; enhanced officer safety by discouraging use of force against police; de-escalating high-conflict situations to avoid use of force by police; providing real-life training examples and insight into policing/public encounters to assist with training initiatives; assisting in complaint resolution about alleged officer misconduct and enhanced evidence documentation.
sa国际传媒淧olice legitimacy and public trust are emerging themes in the current policing landscape and must be at the forefront of a modern and progressive community policing approach, which the DPD remains committed to,sa国际传媒� police chief Neil Dubord said in a statement.
Mondaysa国际传媒檚 release notes the use of cameras will follow existing department policy and provincial standards.
When in the cameras are in use, police must record their interactions with the public sa国际传媒渋n an overt capacitysa国际传媒� and tell people they are being filmed unless it is unsafe in the moment to do so.
The DPD has also established a strict policy around accessibility and release of the camera footage, which can only be accessed by the investigating officer, their supervisor and others with an investigative or documented need to see the footage.
The footage is stored in a centralized digital evidence management system sa国际传媒� which is mandatory for all municipal police departments sa国际传媒� significantly reducing data storage costs.
editor@northdeltareporter.com
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