A total of 280 officers will be issued cameras in a
phased rollout that officially began on Sept. 3, 2024. This is inclusive of the
35 officers on EPS’ High Risk Encampment Teams, Healthy Streets Operations
Centre Community Safety Teams, and Transit and Community Safety Teams who began
wearing cameras as a proof of concept in July 2023.
Areas set to receive cameras are the Public Safety
Unit, Crime Suppression Branch, Northeast Division Patrol, West Division Patrol,
Southwest Division Patrol, Whyte Avenue Beats, Gang Suppression, the Commercial
Vehicle Investigation Unit, and the Traffic Enforcement Section. Remaining public-facing
areas are expected to be issued cameras in the coming year, depending on
budget.
“Body-worn cameras are a helpful tool for everyone
when it comes to police interactions. Wearing the cameras builds trust with the
public and it can give valuable insight as an investigative tool,” says Deputy
Chief Darren Derko of the Community Policing Bureau. “During our initial proof
of concept period, we found that often times just the presence of the camera
can de-escalate situations almost immediately.”
EPS began a proof of concept to test possible
technologies following a mandate from Alberta’s government in March 2023 that
directed police provincewide to work toward adopting body worn cameras. Now
that the proof of concept has concluded, EPS has entered into a bridge contract
with Axon to use the Axon Body 4 camera as it best meets the service’s
technological and operational requirements.
“Axon proudly supports the Edmonton Police Service in
advancing public safety with body-worn cameras,” says Axon Canada Sales
Director Stefan Schurman. “The deployment of Axon Body 4 increases officer and
community safety with reliable technology that is proven to drive effective
de-escalation, enhance training and accelerate investigations.”
The goals of body worn cameras are multifaceted, but
overall aim to create a more efficient accountability process and reduce use of
force incidents for both officers and the public. Some of the anticipated
outcomes include, increasing transparency, reducing unfounded allegations of
police misconduct, increasing public trust and confidence in the EPS.
What to expect
Officers wearing cameras will have
them mounted on the front of their uniform. They are approximately the size of
a deck of playing cards and officers will activate recording with audio and
video during interactions with the public, when the nature of the interaction
is known to be, or become, investigative or enforcement related in nature.
While not legally required to do so, officers will do
their best to advise citizens when they are being recorded.
The officer will deactivate recording once their interaction
with the public has ended and/or when they determine that continuous recording
is no longer serving its intended purpose. At the end of every shift, all
officers will dock their cameras and footage will automatically be uploaded to
a designated secure storage location. Recorded data cannot be altered or
deleted at any time and all footage will be logged and submitted as part of
disclosure to the Crown when charges are laid.
More information on body worn cameras can be found
online at edmontonpolice.ca/bwc.