The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) has started deploying body-worn cameras service-wide. Over the course of the next several months, some frontline areas will undergo training and begin wearing the technology.
280 officers will be issued cameras in a phased rollout that officially began on Sept. 3, 2024.
This includes 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 prototype cameras 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 initially rolled out the idea of body cameras 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.
With that 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.
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 the cameras which are approximately the size of a deck of playing cards, 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.
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