The Belleville Police Service is expecting to start its body camera pilot project at the end of September.
Deputy Chief Chris Barry told the Police Services Board on Thursday that an internal policy for the use of the cameras has been developed and officers will begin wearing them for the 90 day trial in the third week of September.
Barry says the police service is planning to get some input from residents on the use of body cameras both before and after the pilot project gets going.
“We want to gauge their reaction and get some input on what they feel before the pilot starts, then maybe see after 90 days and we’ve all had a chance to see them in action, just how they see about it post pilot. Then we’ll use that to guide us on making our decision on whether we’re going to proceed with them.”
Axon Public Safety Canada will be giving the police service 28 cameras and eight licences for the needed computer program, with those cameras to be split between officers on both the day and night shifts, as well as the traffic safety unit.
