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EPS, Technology North research development project involving neurodivergent employees successful

Technology North autism employment program now permanent at EPS

For Immediate Release: 18-Dec-2024 @ 10:45 AM
MRU #: 24R056-1

The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) and IT company Technology North have successfully completed  a research development project and are moving forward with a permanent autism employment program for body worn video redaction.

In June 2024, Technology North and the EPS partnered to launch a research development project involving the redaction of body worn camera footage in low complexity incidents. The project, which employed four of Technology North’s employees, all of whom are on the autism spectrum, successfully concluded in October, and recently, both organizations solidified a service agreement to make the program a permanent part of the EPS’ Digital Evidence and Records Management Unit. Compensated within the EPS’ existing operational budget, Technology North’s employees have begun working on an as-needed, contract basis, with the expectation of hiring additional team members as body worn cameras continued to be deployed across the service throughout 2025.

“We are thrilled to say this development project was a resounding success, and we look forward to welcoming additional members of the Technology North team in 2025,” says Supt. Derek McIntyre with the EPS Information and Analytics Division. “As we begin planning the phased deployment of body worn cameras to the remainder of the service, the volume of footage requiring redaction will only continue to increase and we are excited to know that the Technology North team will be available to support this need.”

Currently, four Technology North employees and their coach will continue to work alongside several other redaction specialists to remove any body worn camera footage that may infringe on the privacy of individual(s) not directly involved in a police interaction. Footage redacted by the Technology North team will include license plates on a nearby vehicle, a citizen walking past or a computer, phone screen or paper document that contains sensitive or private information. This work is often done frame by frame and requires significant attention to detail, work that suits the extraordinary capabilities and talents of individuals on the autism spectrum.

"We are deeply grateful to the Edmonton Police Service for their visionary partnership, which has not only advanced police transparency and accountability but also created meaningful employment opportunities for individuals on the autism spectrum—a core mission of our organization,” says Ling Huang, President and CEO of Technology North. “This collaboration has exceeded our expectations, demonstrating the power of public-private partnerships to drive innovation, foster inclusivity, and deliver impactful solutions. EPS has been a catalyst for change, enabling us to expand our services across Canada and beyond. Their leadership inspires us to continue building a brighter future for communities everywhere.”

“From the moment we began working with Technology North and their self-proclaimed A-team, we saw the positive impacts and knew their remarkable skill set would be a great fit,” says Ron Anderson, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer with the EPS Innovation and Information Bureau. “The EPS is committed to expanding our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we’re delighted to be working with the Technology North team and their autism employment program to further this goal.”

Background information

Technology North connected with the EPS as cohort member of the Telus Community Safety Wellness Accelerator facilitated by the Edmonton Police Foundation, where ongoing conversations sparked the idea for the unique research development project involving Technology North’s dedicated autism employment program.

Technology North
Founded in the late 1990s by current President and CEO Ling Huang, Technology North has called Edmonton home for decades. In 2004, Ling’s son Brian was diagnosed with autism, which prompted Ling and his wife to imagine what Brian’s future would hold in the workforce. This resulted in the 2019 launch of Technology North Digital Services (TNDS), a dedicated autism employment program, which helps break down complex IT work into small, manageable tasks for neurodivergent employees. The program, which began with four employees and one job coach, has since grown to over 20 employees and two job coaches and uses RoboCoach, an in-house purpose-built assistive technology that monitors the work and wellbeing of autistic individuals in the workplace.

Body Worn Cameras at EPS
The goals of body worn cameras remain multifaceted, but overall aim to create a more efficient accountability process and reduce use of force incidents for both officers and the public. Following the Body Worn Cameras (BWC) trial that began in July 2023, the EPS commenced a phased service-wide implementation on Sept. 3, 2024. This decision follows the March 2023 Alberta Government mandate requiring the use of body worn cameras by all police officers. As part of the initial trial, EPS tested cameras with 35 officers working with Transit and Community Safety Teams (TRACS), the Healthy Streets Operations Centre Community Safety Teams (HSOC) and the Encampment Response Teams (ERT). Following the well-received trial, 280 additional cameras will be rolled out to 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. This phased roll out is anticipated to continue through 2025.

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For media inquiries please contact the EPS Media Relations Unit at mediarelations@edmontonpolice.ca.