Body cameras coming for Saskatchewan highway patrol officers

Saskatchewan's new highway patrol officers are set tobe outfitted with body cameras by August.

None of the major police agencies in Saskatchewan, includingthe RCMP, currently equip officers with body cameras and most say that at this pointthere is no active plan to do so.

The highway patrol officer program was announced earlier this month.The provincial government is in the process of transformingits commercial vehicle enforcement unit into a highway patrol by giving officers expanded powers to investigate and respond to crimes.

The Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure recently said it intends to sign a contract with Axon Public Safety Canada for the supply of "digital evidence technology."

"There are already cameras in the officers' vehicles, but the body cameras will enable the monitoring of situations away from the vehicles," wrote a government spokesperson in an email toCBCNews.

It's all part of the province's efforts to combat rural crime by creating a new protection team, which will be comprised of thenewly named highway patrol officers, RCMP, municipal police officers and conservation officers.

Cameras could 'enhance officer safety'

The spokesperson also said evidence from these cameras could be used at trials, whether related to activities around rural crimeor theenforcement regulations around commercial transportation.

"The cameras will also help enhance officer safety. In addition, reviewing the incidents can be used for training and skill development purposes," wrote the spokesperson.

The government says all highway officers will wearcameras while on patrol. There are around 30 officers in the unit, but the province hopesto bump that number up to 50.

Officers are expected to begin wearing the cameras in August, the spokesperson said.

Concerns about cost, storage, effectives

CBC News contacted police agencies in Moose Jaw, Regina, Saskatoon andWeyburn, as well as the RCMP. Although most usecameras in their vehicles, none have officers wearingcameras.

An RCMP spokesperson says the service explored the issue in the pastand piloted cameras, but it found no technology capable ofmeeting its operational needs.

"If we're going to buying this type of equipment, we're distributing it to over 750detachments so it's a major expenditure and you have to be responsible for the taxpayer's money," said Cpl. Rob King.

"Right now the cameras that we've tested don't meet ourrequirements for durability, battery life and there are also problems with how do we secure the information and manage the information once we have it."

'We're not even considering them,' says Weyburndeputy chief

A spokesperson for the Regina Police Service said in an email to CBCthatthe issue of body-worn cameras emerged a few years ago and the studies done to date lack compelling enoughinformation for police to introduce the technology.

The spokesperson said thatwhile this technology carries potential benefits,it would be costly to store and manage.

WeyburnPolice Service Deputy Chief Rod Stafford said there is a lack of credible evidenceto support introducing them and many questions about the logistics.

"We're not even considering them," he said.