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Calgary Police ServiceBody Worn Camera Program
Calgary Police Service
Staff Sergeant Asif RashidSergeant Todd Robertson
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Located in Western Canada in the Foothills of the Rockies, Calgary has a population of 1.2m.
Calgary Police Service
- 2000 sworn officers- 800 civilian members- 8 patrol districts
Pilot Project
• A test and evaluation period is critical. The end users must be involved for better buy-in and acceptance of the program.
Pilot Project
November 8th, 2012, the pilot began with 50 cameras.
Tested by front-line, uniformed personnel.
- Patrol- Beat Teams- Traffic Unit- K9- Gang Suppression Team
Pilot ended on May 10th, 2013.
Pilot Project
• In-Car Digital Video cameras had been deployed since 2007: Members had been exposed to the benefits of video evidence.
Device utilized during pilot:Panasonic WVTW310
Evaluation of Hardware
• The pilot included an evaluation of the hardware including:
- battery life- safe, secure mount for camera
- quality of video- additional weight to uniform
Pilot SOPs- Legal considerations
- Privacy- Sensitive investigations- Citizen objections
- Recording restrictions- Reviewing video prior to court use- Retention schedules- Individual issue- Discretionary activation
Findings of Pilot
• 2785 videos were captured.• An increase in early case resolution and
convictions due to BWC evidence. • Reduction in sustained complaints against
officers. • A majority of members, via evaluation survey,
were open to the concept and benefits of BWCs but wanted better technology.
Benchmarking• Guidance for the Use of Body Worn Cameras;
Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada• Calgary Police Body Worn Camera Symposium
(2014)• United Kingdom Body Worn Video Steering
Group• IACP Model Policy (2014)• PERF / COPS Office Implementation Guide
Why?
RFP and Current Technology
Implementation Project
Main Objectives:1. Service wide deployment beginning in
2nd quarter, 2015 (personal issue)2. IT infrastructure in place3. Development of policy and procedures4. Communication plan (internal and
external)5. Training curriculum
Implementation Project
• Discussions were held regarding:- When the cameras should be turned on.- Are the cameras voluntary or mandatorywear?
- How will public requests for video be addressed and managed (FOIP)?
- When and how can supervisors review video?
Implementation Project
- Roll-out will be in stages to give both the Service and the courts time to adapt.
Keep the Crown and Courts Engaged
• The Crown has had continuous input, especially with regards to video disclosure methods.
• Not every court room is technology ready. • A new and valuable member of the
prosecution team will be forensic video analysts and video experts. Begin cultivating them now.
Disclosure to Court
• The increase in digital evidence that the courts are about to begin receiving will be massive.
• The Prosecutors Office is working to build their own IT infrastructure and internal policy.
Disclosure to Court
• Video must be reviewed by the investigator and submitted for vetting or redacting prior to court.
• This ensures the protection of an individual's privacy, privileged information, or police investigative techniques.
• Officers are responsible for reviewing their own video.
Key Elements of Current Project1. Hardware selection and purchase
- cameras and peripheral equipment- charging and uploading stations
Key Elements of Current Project2. Video storage solution
- Cloud vs. in-house server- Retention schedule- IT training and support- Plan for maintenance and upkeep of
equipment
Key Elements of Project
3. Video management- Process for disclosure to court- Process for release in internal investigations- FOIP requests- Review and editing prior to disclosure
4. Approval of policy5. Personnel to lead and manage the program into the
future. New unit, or growth in a related area?
Key Elements of Project
6. Training plan:This will be two staged: e-learning and classroom based.
Privacy Protection
• The Privacy Commissioner of Alberta is investigating the Body Worn Camera program.
• Questions submitted revolve around:- Security and access control- Retention periods- Limitations on “Secondary Use of
Video”
Policy Development
• Policy has gone through several drafts and an independent legal review.
• It will be posted publicly after the final version has been approved and the roll-out has been announced.
• It will be a developing document that may see further amendments in the future.
Policy Development
• Policy allows for a great degree of officer discretion about when and when not to record, but officers will have to justify their use or non-use of the equipment.
• The BWCs will be enabled with a 30 second pre-record buffer.
