Delta Police are considering expansion of its body worn cameras (BWC) pilot program to additional sections of its department and is seeking community input regarding the expansion.
DPD say BWCs are an important tool with multi-faceted benefits for the community and police departments.
Benefits of using BWCs include, but are not limited to:
- increased public trust and confidence
- increased police accountability and transparency
- reduced use of force incidences by and against the police (officer safety)
- improved evidence documentation
- enhanced resolution of complaints about alleged police misconduct
- providing enhanced training resources, when used for training.
During the past two years, the department utilized a phased approach in implementing the program.
In December 2020 BWCs deployment was authorized in support of policing organized or spontaneously occurring events involving civil disobedience, breaches of the peace, violence against persons or property, or targeted interference with economic interests, as well as internal use for training purposes.
In May 2021, BWCs were temporarily authorized, for Interdiction Team policing activities directed at gang violence prevention. This authorization was provided during a time when much of the Lower Mainland experienced increased gang violence, including a homicide in North Delta’s Scottsdale Mall.
In September 2021, BWCs deployment was permanently authorized for Interdiction Team policing activities. BWCs were also temporarily authorized for deployment by Traffic Section officers.
In June of this year, BWC deployment was permanently authorized for Traffic Section officers.
The DPD has currently has 16 BWCs available for use by officers.
According to DPD, unless it is unsafe in the moment to do so, persons filmed by DPD officers using a BWC are told they are being filmed. The circumstances under which BWCs may be used by officers are limited in accordance with policy, and officers are not allowed to film continuously or indiscriminately.
The BWC implementation program to date has cost approximately $9,000. While the total cost of the purchase of BWC and associated equipment was $18,000, approximately half of the cost ($9,000) was funded by a ‘Police Training and Equipment Grant’ from the provincial Civil Forfeiture Office.
“The ongoing BWC program holds value in encouraging and promoting public confidence and trust in policing along with various other benefits,” said Chief Neil Dubord. “This is especially important during increased calls for police modernization by the communities. Moreover, this program is aligned with the DPD’s Community Safety and Well-Being Plan goals of leveraging technology to enhance and develop efficiencies for continuous improvement and utilizing technological and equipment advancements for officer safety.”
Members of the community wishing to know more about the operation of the DPD’s BWC program, and the use of BWCs by officers, can refer to the DPD’s BWC Policy – OD19 and its Guidelines and Authorized Use description, both available on the DPD’s website at https://deltapolice.ca/about/policies . Anyone wishing to provide feedback about the DPD’s use of BWCs can write the DPD at [email protected] or https://deltapolice.ca/contact-us.
