Saskatoon police to put body cameras on another 40 officers next year
CBC
More Saskatoon police officers will be outfitted with body cameras next year.
On Thursday, the Saskatoon Board of Police Commissioners received a report on doubling number of cameras in use for a pilot program that began this April. Forty officers are currently wearing the cameras and that will gradually increase to 80 in the coming year.
Coun. Hilary Gough, who is on the board, said the biggest concern voiced in a city survey done before the program started was around the policy of when a camera would be activated.
"I'm interest to know what that policy states and whether we know if that aspect of the policy is being consistently and successfully followed."
Sgt. Tom Gresty, who is assigned to the project, told the board officers are using the cameras whenever they are dispatched to a call.
"The analogy that we're using in training with our members is 'seat belt on, seat belt off,' " Gresty said.
"Upon my arrival to a call for service, prior to taking my seat belt off to get out and start investigating, I'm gonna start recording," he said. "And I'm going to continue to record the the incident in its entirety until I'm done investigating.
"When I'm ready to drive away and put my seat belt on, I'm going to stop recording."
He said they are auditing the use of the cameras on a monthly basis.
In that city survey, done prior to start of the pilot program, 98 per cent of community members supported the body cameras.
The cameras are being used to collect evidence along with audio and video statements from witnesses and victims, police say.
"Video from calls is also being used to train new recruits by having them wear cameras and then go over the footage with a senior officer," Gresty said.
"[They will] review it and talk about things like grounds for arrest, officers safety, how to appropriately deal with victims and witnesses and suspects."
So far this year $198,000 has been spent to set up the program, buy hardware and purchase software licences.
The federal government is stoking Quebec separatism by walking back its climate commitments — including in its recent deal with Alberta — Liberal MP and former cabinet minister Steven Guilbeault says.
Four more Alberta MLAs are facing recall petitions organized by their constituents, including the first NDP representative to be caught in the province's ongoing wave of recall efforts.
Frank Gehry, the Canadian-born renegade architect behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings, has died at 96.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.