Windsor police to expand use of dash cameras, body microphones after pilot project

Starting next year all police cruisers will be equipped with dash cams, whilepolice officers will be equipped with body-worn microphones.

This is part of an expansion of project by Windsor police that previously began as a three-monthpilot with 26 officers this year.

Kent Rice, president of the Windsor Police Association, says there's a "lot of overlapping benefitsto this technology."

"It's been shown statistically from research, and mostly from the States, that body-worn cameras reduceinteractions of altercations where it turns violent, when the members of the public know they're being recorded, when police service know they're being recorded, it led to changed behavioural patterns," he said.

"You have to be a professional, you know you're being recorded and there's not going to be any surprise about that, not only that, but members are aware they're being recorded, that their behaviourtoo will be now evidenced."

The cameras were first testing in a pilot program that ran from June 3 to September 2. Cameras were mounted in police cruisers and officers were given microphones to wear on their uniforms.

Both are automatically activated when officers respond to a call with lights and sirens, and microphones provide sound for the video dash cameras are recording.

Officers can also activate their microphones, and cameras are also equipped with automatic licence plate recognition technology.

"I am glad to see the success of the pilot project and its continuous expansion to frontline patrol officers," said Dr. Fazle Baki, who chairs the Windsor Police Service's community consultative committee.

Officers are to inform members of the public they are being recorded "at the earliest opportunity" in their interaction, police said in a statement.

The use, disclosure and and retention of the footage will comply with the appropriate privacy and freedom of information laws, the police service added.

Cameras offer 'enhanced accountability:' Professor

Michael Arntfieldis a criminology professor at Western University.

He says while camerasmay deter some people from violence, there's no hard data that cameras prevent injuries.

"It's not going to deter a suspect in every circumstance from fleeing or from resorting to violence," he said. "It is the best evidence available currently, for most interactions, that police can take to court, that police can take before disciplinary bodies or their supervisor to explain their actions.

"What it does is offer an enhanced level of accountability," he said."Video evidence, the courts have consistently said, is the best evidence."

The equipment will be rolled out to supervisors first and then to police officers in the coming year.