Saskatoon Police unveil new body-worn camera project

Saskatoon police chief Troy Cooper says he doesn't expect to gather enough data from the two-year, 40-camera pilot project to know if it is successful.

Training video footage, supplied by the Saskatoon Police Service (SPS), shows what will likely be a new form of evidence — footage collected with body-worn cameras.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Chief Troy Cooper and Sgt. Tom Gresty unveiled the cameras 40 officers will be training with and then wearing for a two-year pilot project.

“We expect to see success in reducing court times and reducing the frustrating wait times that people who make public complaints, and the officers have to wait for the results as well,” Cooper said.

Gresty, who is leading the program, said training began this week.

He demonstrated the cameras for reporters, showing how officers press down on a large button on the front of the device to turn it on. Doing so elicits a loud beep, though the officer wearing the smartphone-sized camera can change the noise.

Once it’s activated, three LED lights begin to shine — though Gresty said officers can turn those off during tactical situations, like when an officer is approaching a suspect with a firearm and doesn’t want to give away their position.

In terms of when the cameras are on and off, the sergeant said officers will be responsible. They are supposed to activate the camera when conducting investigative or enforcement work and they’re supposed to treat it like a seatbelt, in that they should know to always put it on when needed.

He said the cameras should always be visible to other people and said officers will inform others they are being recorded as soon as possible.