Fifty-five Vancouver police officers were issued body-worn cameras this week in the first phase of the program’s rollout.
The police department expects all 220 sworn officers to be equipped with cameras by March 9.
Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said Friday the process of setting up officers with cameras has been going smoothly, and the officers have given positive feedback. Officers began receiving cameras Monday.
Officers have been using the cameras on calls once they get them, Kapp said.
According to department policy, officers are required to activate their cameras prior to exiting their vehicles when arriving at a dispatched call. They should also activate as soon as they can when initiating their own response.
That means officers should record during arrests; pursuits; searches; vehicle stops; issuing citations; victim, witness and suspect interviews; contacting people experiencing mental health crises; at the request of a citizen; and any encounters with the public that becomes adversarial.
Police vehicles will also be equipped with front-facing and rear passenger cameras later in the year. The department said shipping of that equipment is delayed until the fourth quarter of the year due to supply chain issues.
