Pilot project will see Sudbury police wearing body cameras next year
Some Greater Sudbury Police officers will wear body-worn cameras as part of a pilot project beginning in 2025.
Members of the city's police services board received an update Wednesday on the process of implementing the cameras across the entire force.
Some Greater Sudbury Police officers will wear body-worn cameras as part of a pilot project beginning in 2025. (Photo from video)
While the plan to have all officers wear them began in 2021, Natalie Hiltz, acting police chief, told the board the rollout is a long process. It requires training, purchasing software, hiring people and creating policies to handle the flow of digital evidence.
“We want the public to know is delay is not inaction," Hiltz said.
"We are certainly working, setting up the behind the scenes that supports … a responsible deployment and operationalization of the body-worn-on-video technology."
Hiltz said the first officers will begin wearing the cameras next year as part of a pilot project.
“These cameras will be piloted with a specific group of officers so that we can, on a smaller scale, encounter … the bugs and hiccups and road bumps that we're going to have," she said.
The project will help police learn the potential problems of the new technology, including policy training and using the equipment.
Police board chair Al Sizer said it's not always easy to implement things immediately. While it's something the public has been asking for, Sizer said the cameras will also benefit police.
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
“We'll hold our police service accountable to the public, but it will also defend our police service from frivolous, vexatious or remarks (and) accusations that are unfounded," he said.
"So we're really pleased that we are working towards that body-worn cameras. It's been a long process.”
Hiltz said a detailed financial report on the cost of implementing the cameras, along with timelines, will be available at the board's Oct. 16 meeting.
When police in Hamilton brought in cameras in June, it cost the service $10 million over the next five years to bring in 500 cameras.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau's 2024: Did the PM become less popular this year?
Justin Trudeau’s numbers have been relatively steady this calendar year, but they've also been at their worst, according to tracking data from CTV News pollster Nik Nanos.
Back on air: John Vennavally-Rao on reclaiming his career while living with cancer
'In February, there was a time when I thought my career as a TV reporter was over,' CTV News reporter and anchor John Vennavally-Rao writes.
The winter solstice is here, the Northern Hemisphere's darkest day
The winter solstice is Saturday, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the Northern Hemisphere — ideal conditions for holiday lights and warm blankets.
What we know about the suspect behind the German Christmas market attack
Germany on Saturday was still in shock and struggling to understand the suspect behind the attack in the city of Magdeburg.
Poilievre writes to GG calling for House recall, confidence vote after Singh declares he's ready to bring Liberals down
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has written to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, imploring her to 'use your authority to inform the prime minister that he must' recall the House of Commons so a non-confidence vote can be held. This move comes in light of NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh publishing a letter stating his caucus 'will vote to bring this government down' sometime in 2025.
Overheated immigration system needed 'discipline' infusion: minister
An 'overheated' immigration system that admitted record numbers of newcomers to the country has harmed Canada's decades-old consensus on the benefits of immigration, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, as he reflected on the changes in his department in a year-end interview.
School custodian stages surprise for Kitchener, Ont. students ahead of holiday break
He’s no Elf on the Shelf, but maybe closer to Ward of the Board.
Kelly Clarkson's subtle yet satisfying message to anyone single this Christmas
The singer and daytime-talk show host released a fireside video to accompany her 2021 holiday album, “When Christmas Comes Around” that she dubbed, “When Christmas Comes Around…Again.
Pope Francis reprimands Vatican staff for gossiping in annual Christmas message
Pope Francis told Vatican bureaucrats on Saturday to stop speaking ill of one another, as he once again used his annual Christmas greetings to admonish the backstabbing and gossiping among his closest collaborators.