Officer Safety Plan with Body-Worn Cameras

Background

The Cobourg Police Services Board (the Board) and Cobourg Police Service (CPS) began exploring the use of body worn cameras since summer of 2020. Public consultations have been key to ensure the Board continues to make fiscally responsibly decisions to support community safety and service excellence here in Cobourg.

In August 2020, Cobourg Police Service conducted a community consultation on the use of body worn cameras as it relates to police accountability, community safety, and privacy. Through the survey, we heard the community’s insights, perceptions and beliefs on body worn cameras which has helped inform the police service’s next steps.

Of the 211 respondents, 94% indicated support for the use of body worn cameras. Over half of the respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they would feel safer if a police officer is wearing a body worn camera; that body worn cameras will enhance police transparency and increase public trust; and will protect police against false accusations.

For the full survey results please see the document section to the right.

In July of 2021, the Board received a comprehensive report on the use of body worn cameras and opened for a consultation period. (To view the presentation, click here.)

This was followed in September 2021 by the Board’s request for additional information on the total cost of a body worn camera program scaled to Cobourg Police Service.

At a special meeting held on November 4, 2021, Chief Paul VandeGraaf presented the financial impact of a proposed comprehensive Officer Safety Plan, which included the body worn camera program and replacement tasers. To view the agenda of the special meeting, please visit www.cobourg.ca/escribe.

At the special meeting, the Board deferred the decision on the implementation of the Officer Safety Plan until their regularly scheduled December meeting to allow further public consultations on the financial impact of the Plan.

The Cobourg Police Services Board Chair, Dean Pepper, Chief of Police, Paul VandeGraaf, and Chief Financial Officer, Roger Ramkissoon, presented the financials for the Officer Safety Plan as part of the 2022 Police Budget presentation to Cobourg’s Town Council at the 2022 Divisional Staff Budget Presentation Meeting on November 10th, 2021. The meeting can be viewed at www.cobourg.ca/escribe.

Next Steps:
The Cobourg Police Services Board is open for public consultation on the cost of the proposed Officer Safety Plan, by way of:

• Feedback sent directly to the Chief of Police; and/or
• Completion of a short survey through engagecobourg.ca

The feedback and the results of the survey will be compiled and posted on the Cobourg Police Service website prior to the formal presentation to the Board on December 21, 2021 when the Board will make their final decision on implementation of the Officer Safety Plan, including the purchase of body worn cameras.

About the proposed Officer Safety Plan
The proposed Officer Safety Plan is an all-encompassing program that equips officers with the latest technology, streamlines digital evidence management capabilities, and streamlines reporting processes, thereby reducing time spent on administrative tasks. In turn, officers can return to serving the community faster.

The technology bundle applies a cost per officer model to align with the size of our police service and offers cost savings as a bundle. The proposed Officer Safety Plan includes:

• body worn cameras and required equipment
• hardware and software components required to implement the program, including:
  1. an information management and record management system to record, store, manage and retrieve audio and video recordings
  2. software to allow the public to submit photos and videos of an incident directly to police
• training, including virtual reality empathy training for officers
• replacement tasers (included in the bundle as part of planned lifecycle replacements to take advantage of cost savings as a package)

To learn more about the OSP cost, please view the 2022 Police Budget presentation to Cobourg’s Town Council by visiting www.cobourg.ca/escribe and access the slide deck by visiting cobourgpoliceservice.com.

• Reviewing the 2022 Police Budget and supporting slides presented to Cobourg’s Town Council on November 10th, 2021.
• Completing the Survey through engagecobourg.ca; and/or;
• Sending your comments directly to the Chief or Police by emailing chief@cobourgpolice.com