Vancouver council approves plan for all frontline police officers to wear body cameras by 2025
All frontline officers with the Vancouver Police Department will be fitted with body-worn cameras by 2025, city council voted Wednesday night.
The motion instructs staff to start costing out the cameras and data storage, and to return with a budget for the project by early 2024. The rollout of body cameras by 2025 was a key election promise of Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC Party.
”I do support body cameras in the sense that they do reduce investigation costs, they hold people accountable—police officers and the general public,” Sim said during the council debate.
The plan does not have the full support of city hall.
Non-ABC councillors raised questions about why the motion was being pushed forward, given the VPD already had plans for a body camera pilot program for next year. The department has requested $200,000 in funding for the program in next year’s budget.
“It’s like the pilot is useless if we’re already going ahead and saying we’re going to go ahead and implement it,” said Councillor Adrienne Carr during the debate.
Christine Boyle said the motion was not “good governance,” while Pete Fry said that it “ignores best practice.”
“The motion that was approved by ABC tonight leapfrogs (the pilot) altogether, it sort of ignores the request from the Vancouver Police Board and goes right to approving, in principle, body-worn cameras for all operating police officers,” Fry said after the council session.
Carr, Boyle and Fry all voted against the motion. They said there are concerns around privacy and cost that need to be addressed.
In response to the concerns, ABC councillors reiterated their election promise to address public safety and the desire to see it fulfilled by 2025. Peter Meiszner suggested that waiting until the end of the 2023 pilot program would delay full implementation.
“I don't want to see us dithering for another two or three years, trying to make a decision about a program that’s been in place for decades in other jurisdictions,” Meiszner said.
The VPD has looked into body cameras before.
“It’s always been a cost-prohibitive issue due to technology, data storage and what not,” Const. Tania Visintin said.
SUPPORT FROM POLICE WATCHDOG
The chief civilian director of the Independent Investigations Office said body-worn cameras will make it easier for investigators to spot misconduct by police.
“Every person has a camera (and) for police not to have the same equipment to capture their incidents with the public, it raises the idea that they’re not being transparent,” said Ron McDonald.
He added that since Apr. 1 of this year there have been 21 officer involved shootings in B.C., which is triple the annual average. McDonald also said the number of police interactions that are being investigated has doubled since 2017.
“We do have a lot more cases with respect to serious injury or harm or death being caused to people by police. So what the reason for that is, I can’t give a specific answer,” McDonald said. “The bottom line is, the things that can be captured on those cameras, in particular situations where force is used by police against a member of the public, are too important to not be using a tool that is now readily available.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.