Halton police looking at in-car cameras

Pilot project shows technology particularly useful during traffic stops

Halton police are looking to outfit some of their cruisers with cameras after a year-long pilot project showed the technology is particularly useful for traffic stops.

The in-car camera system pilot project began with two cameras installed in police cars in Oakville in May 2015, moved to Milton and expanded by one more camera that November. It included testing with a fourth camera in Burlington last year. The pilot ended in June 2016.

In all, the cameras captured 1,300 events, including 600 times where provincial offence notice tickets were handed out, said Acting Insp. Julie Craddock-Bijl of the office of continuous improvement and strategic management.

“The biggest thing we found of value was in traffic offences,” she said, explaining that having a video of a driver rolling through a stop sign or slurring speech during an impaired arrest is irrefutable in court.

The cameras, which were on loan free of charge from several companies to test out the equipment, were installed in the cruisers to capture front and rear images. Officers also wore microphones.

The cameras have a buffer that is continuously running in the background, but is only recorded when triggered, Craddock-Bijl said.

This can happen a number of different ways, including manually by the officer, when lights and sirens are turned on, and by the force of an impact (if the cruiser is in a crash).

The length of time video is retained varies depending on the type of call, she said.

For instance, video of an officer checking a cruiser is in good working order is stored for 14 days, whereas a criminal investigation or prisoner transport is stored for 730 days.

The police service is aware of the potential psychological impact on officers who know they’re being recorded, Craddock-Bijl said, but noted that is already often the case because of the proliferation of cellphone cameras.

“Our officers understand they’re being recorded out there anyways ... it’s an extension of where we are in 2017,” she said, adding they had positive feedback from officers during the pilot project.

The camera footage can also be used in internal investigations into officer conduct. During the pilot project, professional standards bureau investigators requested footage.

Craddock-Bijl said she was working as a supervisor in another division when the pilot began, and twice citizens complained they were treated unfairly by officers in recorded interactions. But when she checked the video, both times it proved the officers acted professionally. “It was a great tool as a supervisor to be able to see that video.”

In-car camera systems have been around for a while. For instance, Toronto police have used them in front-line vehicles since 2011.

Bruce Chapman, president of the Police Association of Ontario, said in-car cameras are valuable but can be limited because they only capture what happens right in front of the cruiser.

Some police services are moving back to exploring in-car cameras because there is uncertainty around body-worn cameras, he said.

The association hasn’t formally opposed body-worn cameras, Chapman said. Rather, there are many unanswered questions about how they would work, how information would be stored and privacy issues.

Halton police are not looking at the more controversial body-worn cameras. Craddock-Bijl said they will wait to see more testing in larger jurisdictions.

The cameras have had limited testing in other areas to mixed reviews. They have been recommended, including in the inquest into the death of Steve Mesic, whom Hamilton police shot dead in 2013.

Craddock-Bijl said her team will shift its focus back to car cameras this fall.

What the program will look like, and how many vehicles will be equipped with cameras, will depend largely on a yet-to-be-determined budget.

The focus, at least initially, will be on cars used in traffic enforcement. The added workload to staff who will have to prepare the videos for court is also a consideration.

“It’s going to be a co-ordinated, slow rollout,” Craddock-Bijl said.