In a move towards greater transparency and accountability, RCMP officers in Alberta will commence field testing body-worn cameras along with a new digital evidence management system.
According to the force, Body-worn cameras can help increase trust between police and the communities they serve because the video evidence collected will provide an independent, unbiased and objective way to capture interactions between the public and police officers.
Starting this month, frontline members in Grande Prairie, St. Paul and Parkland County will begin field testing body-worn cameras. This field test will continue for 8 to 10 weeks.
RCMP officers will usually be wearing their body-worn cameras in the middle of their chest, and the public will know it’s recording when a red light is visible on the camera.
Following field tests, a national roll out will proceed in a phased approach and is expected to take 12 to 18 months.
Once complete, body-worn cameras and a digital evidence management system will become the national standard for general duty frontline RCMP officers across Canada.
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