Medicine Hat police deploy 86 body-worn cameras

The Medicine Hat Police Service has deployed 86 body-worn cameras across its frontline and specialized units, meeting a provincial requirement that all frontline officers be equipped with the devices, the service said in a news release.

The expansion builds on a pilot project the service launched in 2017. Since then, the program grew as the service assessed operational needs, technology requirements, storage demands and best practices for managing digital evidence.

All frontline officers — including patrol, traffic and some specialty unit members — wear the camera on their uniform during public interactions. The device is slightly smaller than a smartphone and carries a visible red recording light, which may be turned off for safety reasons such as during nighttime incidents or when the light could create an officer safety concern.

When a camera is activated, it captures a 30-second video-only buffer recorded before the officer switches it on. Officers are expected to activate their cameras during arrests or detentions, use-of-force situations, investigative contacts, legal demands and the laying of charges.

Specific Traffic Section vehicles are also equipped with dash and rear-seat cameras that activate automatically when emergency lights come on or during a collision. Those cameras record the same 30-second pre-activation buffer and continue recording until an officer deactivates them.

The service said evaluations of both body-worn and in-car camera programs have found evidence the technologies can support a more efficient accountability process and help reduce incidents in which force is used. Stated goals include enhancing transparency and public trust, protecting officers from unfounded misconduct allegations and improving evidence collection.

Officers are not legally required to tell a person they are being recorded, but are trained to do so when circumstances allow, the release said. Cameras will not be used during intimate searches of prisoners, when recording could interfere with legal privilege, or in areas where there is a high expectation of privacy.

Footage is subject to Alberta's Protection of Privacy Act and may be disclosed through the court process, with private third-party information redacted where required.

All officers who use body-worn cameras complete training covering relevant legislation, service policy, camera operation, evidence management and privacy requirements. The program is governed by the service's In-Car Video and Body-Worn Camera Policy.

Concerns about misuse can be reported through the police complaint process. Complaints related to the body-worn camera policy are reviewed by the MHPS Professional Standards Unit, while misconduct complaints are handled under the Police Act.