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SSP Body Worn Camera pilot project set to begin in April

South Simcoe Police hope to introduce body worn cameras as part of a 4-month pilot
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From left, Vice Chair of the BWG-Innisfil Police Services Board Todd Canning listens as Police Chief Andrew Fletcher and Deputy Chief John Van Dyke discuss pilot project.

There has been “a lot of work behind the scenes,” on the proposed Body Worn Camera pilot project, Wednesday’s meeting of the Bradford West Gwillimbury-Innisfil Police Services Board (PSB) was told.

South Simcoe Deputy Police Chief John Van Dyke noted that a three-person committee has been established to look into the parameters, restrictions and concerns of both staff and the public – and that there has been an announcement by the province, that will help support digital evidence collection.

While the Ministry of the Attorney-General insists that Body Worn Cameras will not be mandated by the provincial government, a new provincial digital evidence platform has been created in collaboration with AXON, the provider of the ‘body cams’ and support hardware and software. The province has promised a 45 percent savings in the first year for municipal police services that sign on to the new system, which will allow electronic sharing of evidence among police services and court systems.

Van Dyke noted that South Simcoe Police currently pay $32,000 per year for their contract with AXON, which expires March 1. If the Police Services Board adopts the new system, there will be savings of nearly $15,000 dollars – and “costs will come down” as more and more services sign on, he said.

The province has also negotiated lower rates for digital data storage “far exceeding what we could ever negotiate,” added the Deputy Chief.

Working with AXON, South Simcoe Police have been able to negotiate a longer pilot project period than originally proposed – extending the pilot from three to four months, from April 1 to July 31. There will be no cost to the service for the cameras, software and accessory “toys” used during that period – and, Van Dyke said, no obligation to proceed with the use of Body Worn Cameras at the end of the pilot.

That will be a decision of the Board, based on the results of both the pilot and consultation.

The police service will be gauging staff support and concerns, both before the pilot project gets underway and after its conclusion.

“We will also be conducting a community survey during the four-month project,” Van Dyke said. The “quite comprehensive” survey will ask residents upfront if they would be willing to support the introduction of ‘body cams’ financially, through their taxes.

Pricing will be explored before any decision is made, the PSB was assured. At the moment, AXON is offering to freeze the current 2022 prices if the service signs on – although there is a “full out” clause that would allow South Simcoe Police to cancel, if the PSB turns down the extended use of body worn cameras, after review.

Once the pilot project is complete, “we will crunch all the numbers, look at all the data, look at the survey replies,” and present a comprehensive report and recommendation to the Board, Van Dyke said. If approved, Body Worn Cameras could be implemented as early as 2023. 

“There’s lots of Police Services around the province that have already gone to full Body Worn Cameras,” noted Police Chief Andrew Fletcher, which means that South Simcoe Police won’t have to “reinvent the wheel” when looking at issues like privacy, and appropriate use of ‘body cams.’

Other surveys and studies can be used to shape the pilot project, Fletcher said – for example, ensuring that the public is notified before a body cam is turned on, banning the use of the cameras in medical facilities and religious centres, or automatically turning on the cameras when lights, tasers or other weapons are deployed.

Fletcher noted that the cameras have led to a decrease in police complaints, and faster complaint resolution, in areas where they are regularly deployed.

“People can actually see what’s occurring,” he said.

Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin suggested that the public surveys should be limited to residents of Innisfil and Bradford West Gwillimbury, to prevent non-taxpayers from airing grievances against other police services.

She also suggested that local residents might see themselves as “different,” and dismiss the evidence gathered in other jurisdictions.

“We are different,” replied Chief Fletcher, noting that any pilot project introducing body worn cameras will “need to meet the needs of our community.”

Preliminary consultation with police staff has identified some concerns. “I think what the officers are worried about is that it will make more work for them,” said Deputy Chief Van Dyke. While officers are in favour of new technology, “they don’t like to embrace new technology that makes another 20 minutes of work at the end of the day,” he said.

Chief Fletcher concluded that the use of body worn cameras will be a “community decision,” and a decision of the Police Services Board. It will be up to the board to determine, at the end of the day, if the benefits outweigh the costs and concerns.