Behind the scenes work continues as the North Bay Police Service looks at outfitting officers with bodyworn cameras.
They heard a presentation from Barrie Police Service Staff Sgt Dave Goodbrand at this week’s virtual board meeting.
He says Barrie Police first implemented the Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) then added bodycams, which allowed their officers to get comfortable with the digital system before the bodycam pilot.
Goodbrand says other police services have gone a different route.
“Toronto, for an example, they’ve kind of done it all at one time. They’re getting DEMS and bodyworn cameras and those officers have to not only learn how to use the camera, and functionality and get used to it, but they’re also trying to learn how to use a Digital Evidence Management System,” he says.
Goodbrand says it’s possible, but there’s much longer training sessions for the officers.
As for feedback on the bodycams, he says they’re welcomed by their officers.
“I can tell you every officer that put them on, the next shift said ‘I don’t ever want to lose this again’. For feeling safer of false allegations, but definitely they see a difference in the public treating them differently when the camera is on,” he says.
Overall, Goodbrand says there’s a lot of work and training involved with both projects and feedback and co-ordination with stakeholders is key.
He also says a special unit was created to make sure everything is done consistently, especially with evidence going out to court officials and others.

(photo taken from board meeting)

 

 

Filed under: bodyworn cameras, North Bay Police