Body cameras coming to some police on Manitoulin Island

Wikwemikong Tribal police launch body-worn camera pilot on Manitoulin Island, with rules allowing cameras off for sacred ceremonies.

Police on parts of Manitoulin Island will soon wear body cameras as part of a pilot project.

The Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service will roll out the pilot project for three to six months.

The force’s police chief, Ron Gignac, said the body cameras will mirror what the service already has in its police cruisers.

“We have in-car cameras right now that are filming approaching vehicles when we come up to a scene,” he said.

“Anything like you see in the movies, really, and on the police shows, we’re actually able to film from our police cars.”

Gignac said that technology has already been effective for solving crimes.

“An officer can only see and witness so much, he said.

“Sometimes when we review the footage, we’re able to put things together.”

Gignac said cameras have been used to get a clear license plate reading on a car or an ATV.

“We’re going to look at all the policies and procedures and practices that we have,” Gignac said. “We’re going to convene with our crown attorneys and the courts on how our redaction of the footage is, how did all of those extracurricular activities that the public won’t see – that we will have to do.”

The police chief said that there will be a set of rules in place for when the cameras will be used.

“If an officer is going to be filming a member of the public, they’re going to be notified,” he said

Gignac told CTV News that the hope of utilizing the cameras is transparency and accountability.

“Especially when we produce that evidence for court, it’s an element of transparency,” he said.

Additionally, during sacred ceremonies, officers can turn off the cameras – but, in the line of their regular duties – there will be an expectation for officers to have them on.

“If they’re on mobile patrol, you exit the vehicle. The camera gets turned on with whatever you’re doing,” said Gignac.

The rollout will involve all sworn police officers, front-line platoons and sergeants and from there it’ll be expanded to specialty teams and units.

With files from CTVNorthernOntario.ca anchor Ian Campbell