By Times Chronicle Staff

Penticton South Okanagan Similkameen RCMP has begun rolling out its Body Worn Cameras to Frontline Police Officers beginning on March 10.

In a statement, the RCMP said the initiative is part of the force’s modernization efforts and is now the national standard for all RCMP officers across the country.

In 2020, the federal government urged police agencies to use body-worn cameras as a means to respond to concerns from racialized and indigenous communities about interactions with police.

The RCMP agreed that body-worn cameras were an additional tool that would increase accountability and improve police transparency.

“The implementation of body-worn cameras is a significant step forward in our efforts to build stronger relationships with the community,” says RCMP Superintendent Beth McAndie.

“These cameras will provide an objective record of police interactions, help resolve complaints, and improves transparency in relation police and public interactions.”

The RCMP will equip all officers who have operational interactions with the public and could include any frontline officers in contract and federal policing positions such as the RCMP Indigenous Policing Service.

The initial roll-out represents about 10 per cent of the total that will eventually be distributed to frontline officers across the province where more than 3,000 cameras are to be deployed over the next 12 to 18 months..

The body-worn cameras will be activated during law enforcement encounters, including traffic stops, arrests, and other situations where officers engage with the public.

The RCMP says clear policies have been established regarding the use, storage, and access to recorded footage, ensuring compliance with privacy laws and best practices. See the link for more information on the RCMP’s Body-Worn Camera policy.

The objectives of the body-worn camera project are:

  • Strengthening transparency, accountability and public trust;
  • Resolving public complaints more quickly;
  • Improving interactions between the public and police;
  • Improving evidence gathering.

More than 10,000 cameras will be rolled out across the country once the roll out is complete. The RCMP estimates that the Body-Worn Cameras and Digital Evidence Management Services (DEMS) will cost approximately $3,000 per user each year.

“We are excited to be rolling out this program within our community as we recognize the importance of trust between law enforcement and the public,” says Operations NCO Staff Sgt Bob Vatamaniuck. “By implementing body-worn cameras, we aim to reinforce our dedication to fair and professional policing.”

For more information about the body-worn camera program, community members are encouraged to visit the BCRCMP website.