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Photo courtesy of Ross Lavigne - Insp. Joe West discusses city police's continued use of body cameras.
Body cameras

MHPS to continue use of body cams

Aug 16, 2019 | 5:39 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – City police will be continuing use of their body cameras for at least the next four years but they will only be used by 10 front-line officers until that time.

Police launched the six-month body cam pilot project in the fall of 2017 and then extended to a one-year project. Last year, the MHPS went ahead with a five-year agreement with service provider Axon.

Insp. Joe West said in addition to the body cams, city police will also continue to utilize four in-car cameras which were also part of the original pilot.

“We found that the pilot was quite successful,” said West, adding MHPS will continue to maintain the deployment of 10 body cameras, “to make sure we’re fiscally responsible and that we are getting value for the dollars spent.”

Calgary police announced this week they will be moving to a full deployment of body cameras for front-line officers. West said a decision regarding future use of body cameras will come at the end of the current program mandate.