KITIMAT, B.C. – Residents in Kitimat will now see RCMP officers wearing body-worn cameras while on patrol, as the local detachment officially rolled out the new technology on Monday.
The move follows a similar implementation in Smithers earlier this month and is part of a phased, national initiative by the RCMP to increase transparency and accountability in policing.
Officers in Kitimat have now completed the required training and will be activating the cameras during calls for service. According to the RCMP, this includes interactions with people in crisis, mental health calls, investigations, and any crimes in progress.
The stated objectives of the body-worn camera program are to strengthen public trust, help resolve public complaints more quickly, and improve both evidence gathering and interactions between police and the public.
The RCMP have stressed that the cameras are not used for 24-hour recording or general surveillance.
The implementation of this technology is a significant change for front-line policing in the region, providing a first-person view of the often complex and tense situations officers encounter. More information on the national initiative is available on the RCMP’s website.
