The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service says it's taking another step towards transparency by adding body cameras to officers' uniforms.
Currently in its pilot phase, this initiative is rolling out with officers in traffic services before becoming fully operational among all officers in the force.
Once fully deployed, the cameras will record interactions between officers and the public, providing an objective record to support investigations, strengthen evidence collection, and enhance accountability.
“Body-worn cameras are an important tool for building trust with the community,” said Hugh Stevenson, chief of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service in a news release issued today.
“They provide a clear and unbiased record of interactions, ensuring accountability for both officers and the public. This technology reflects our commitment to transparency, safety, and trust in modern policing.”
For more information, see the press release below.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is taking another significant step towards enhancing transparency and accountability by equipping all frontline officers with body-worn cameras. The new technology is expected to be fully operational in the next few weeks as Patrol Services officers are trained.
This initiative is currently in its pilot phase, with officers in Traffic Services testing the new technology. Once fully deployed, the cameras will record interactions between officers and the public, providing an objective record to support investigations, strengthen evidence collection, and enhance accountability.
“Body-worn cameras are an important tool for building trust with the community,” said Hugh Stevenson, Chief of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service. “They provide a clear and unbiased record of interactions, ensuring accountability for both officers and the public. This technology reflects our commitment to transparency, safety, and trust in modern policing.”
The cameras activate automatically when officers within a set radius turn on their emergency lights or sirens, or unholster a taser. When body-worn cameras are not automatically turned on, officers will be responsible to activate the cameras manually. To ensure transparency, body-worn cameras will display a red LED light when recording. During every interaction, officers will tell community members that they have a body-worn camera which will be recording audio and video while they talk.
The implementation of body-worn cameras is part of a broader effort by the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service to adopt modern policing practices and improve community relations. During public interactions, the cameras will capture audio and video, offering a comprehensive record of events.
Evidence from body-worn cameras has been shown to reduce investigative time for public complaints and streamline court proceedings.
The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service is committed to safeguarding the privacy of citizens. Video footage will be securely stored on a cloud-based platform managed by AXON Canada, with strict access controls and audit logs to ensure data integrity. Policies are in place to comply with provincial privacy laws, including the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and the Community Safety and Policing Act. Sensitive information will be redacted as necessary to protect individual privacy during legal disclosures.
This initiative builds on the SSMPS’s ongoing efforts to modernize policing practices, complementing recent advancements such as in-car camera systems in patrol vehicles. Together, these technologies strengthen safety, accountability, and trust between the Sault Police and the community we serve.