Toronto Police officers in west-end divisions including South Etobicoke will begin this week using their body-worn camera during interactions with the public.

Police say officers from 22 Division, at 3699 Bloor St. W., and 11 Division, at 2054 Davenport Rd., and those assigned to the Community Response Unit at 52 Division, will start using the technology when dealing with the public on October 26.

“Body-worn cameras are one tool we can use to create trust and legitimacy between officers and the public as we look for ways to modernize policing services,” said Chief James Ramer.

“This technology provides an independent, bias-free account of our interactions and reinforces our commitment to show communities they can feel safe and secure to enjoy their daily lives with the police,” he said.
The Toronto Police Service received approval from the Toronto Police Services Board on August 18, to move forward with Axon Canada in the delivery of a Service-wide body-worn camera program.
Before deployment, every officer will be trained on the operational use of the camera and the associated governance, which include minimum penalties for non-compliance.
The Service has worked with the Information & Privacy Commissioner, the Ministry of the Attorney General, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Special Investigations Unit, and the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, to develop a program that considers privacy, security, and disclosure responsibilities for the body-worn cameras.
Body-worn cameras will be used when an officer arrives at a call for service, begins an investigation, or when asking a person questions for the purposes of collecting information.

More than 2,000 body cameras were ordered for use by members of the Toronto Police Service. Their use is being phased in by police across the city.
To learn about the body-worn camera program, visit www.tps.on.ca/body-worn-cameras