In just a few weeks, NWT police officers will begin wearing body cams.
This is part of the RCMP’s efforts to be transparent and accountable, and to earn trust within the communities they serve. The body cams coming to the North will be paired with a digital evidence management system to help store the video gathered by the cameras.
The rollout of body cams in the North will begin on November 22nd, and will be initially given out to officers of the Yellowknife detachment. Officers will be trained on their use in groups, so residents can expect to see some officers wearing cameras, while others will not be using them right away.
When encountering an officer with a camera, a flashing red light means that the camera is on and recording, while a green light will mean that the camera is off. All Yellowknife officers should be equipped with body cams by early December.
Other NWT detachments will be trained and equipped with body cams over the next six to eight months. Front-line officers will be carrying cards that contain information on their cameras. That same information will also be posted on bulletin boards throughout NWT communities, and will be posted in the 11 official languages of the Northwest Territories.
