County of Brant municipal law enforcement officers suiting up for work Tuesday added one new piece to their uniforms: a body-worn camera.
“We view the cameras as an important and effective tool of legitimacy,” said Greg Bergeron, manager of enforcement and regulatory services. “The cameras will assist us in providing evidence for our investigative and oversight processes but more importantly, they will increase safety and accountability which will strengthen our relationship with the community.”
He said investing in this technology provides an unbiased account of interaction with the public.
The County of Brant has six of the forward-facing audio and video recording devices worn by the officers.
“Previous incidents were a significant factor in the decision to adopt this equipment,” Bergeron explained. “This is an emerging law enforcement technology in Ontario and the use of body worn cameras to record specific incidents will improve our enforcement reporting and accountability.”
He noted that video footage can be beneficial for a variety of reasons including accurate documentation for evidentiary purposes as well as to refute or support allegations of misconduct by the public against officers.
“Municipal Law Enforcement Officers in the County of Brant approach their investigations in a professional manner and in good faith. The cameras are another tool to legitimize our commitment to safety, accountability and increasing the public trust.”
The cameras are intended to report specific incidents and are not used for general surveillance, said the county.