The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is implementing body-worn cameras for all frontline officers in a move towards transparency and accountability. The cameras will record interactions between officers and the public, providing an objective record to support investigations, strengthen evidence collection, and enhance trust.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is advancing transparency and accountability within its operations by implementing body-worn cameras for all frontline officers. This initiative, currently in its pilot phase, involves officers in Traffic Services testing the new technology before a full rollout to all patrol officers within the next few weeks. The body-worn cameras will automatically activate when officers within a set radius turn on their emergency lights or sirens, or unholster a taser.
Manual activation will also be possible when officers deem it necessary. A red LED light will be displayed on the cameras when recording, ensuring transparency during interactions. During every encounter, officers will inform community members that a body-worn camera is recording both audio and video.This technology is intended to provide an objective record of interactions between officers and the public, supporting investigations, strengthening evidence collection, and enhancing accountability. Chief Hugh Stevenson of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service emphasized the importance of body-worn cameras in building trust within the community, stating that they provide a clear and unbiased record of interactions, ensuring accountability for both officers and the public. He underscored the commitment of the police service to transparency, safety, and trust in modern policing.The implementation of body-worn cameras aligns with the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service's broader efforts to adopt modern policing practices and foster stronger community relations. The recorded audio and video will offer a comprehensive record of events during public interactions, potentially reducing investigative time for public complaints and streamlining court proceedings. The police service is committed to protecting citizen privacy. Video footage will be securely stored on a cloud-based platform managed by AXON Canada, with strict access controls and audit logs to maintain data integrity. Policies are in place to comply with provincial privacy laws, including the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and the Community Safety and Policing Act. Sensitive information will be redacted as needed to safeguard individual privacy during legal disclosures. This initiative builds upon the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service's ongoing efforts to modernize policing practices, complementing recent advancements such as in-car camera systems in patrol vehicles. Together, these technologies aim to strengthen safety, accountability, and trust between the Sault Police and the community they serve
Body-Worn Cameras Police Transparency Accountability Sault Ste. Marie Police Service Modern Policing Community Relations
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