RCMP unlikely to meet deadline to equip Mounties with body-worn cameras

The RCMP's plan to equip Mounties across the country with body-worn cameras appears to berunning behind schedule.

TheRCMPoriginally planned to start rolling out camerasby late 2021 but it still hasn't awarded a contract.

"The exact timeline for the body worn camera rollout will be confirmed once a vendor is selected," said RCMP spokespersonSgt. Caroline Duval.

Back in 2020, Commissioner Brenda Lucki responding to multiple controversies involving Mounties'use of force and allegations of systemic racism agreed to outfit members with body-worn cameras and launch adigital evidence management system.

Citing "an agile procurement process," Duval said three companies Axon Public Safety Canada Inc., Getac Video Solutions Ltd. and Motorola Solutions Canada Inc. are competing for the contract.

"The RCMP and [Public Services and Procurement Canada] are engaged in a process to review and refine requirementswith the three above noted vendors," she said.

"Once complete, a request for proposal will be launched. The field test will begin once the vendor is selected."

The RCMP's original plan was to first introduce the cameras inselected rural, urban and remote communitiesbefore issuingthem to all officers who interact with the public.

While body-worn cameras have been widely embraced as a tool to improvepolice accountability, some experts have said there isn't enough evidence to prove they improve policing.

Mounties in Nunavut wore cameras for six months as part of a pilot project; the detachment said officersrecordedmore than 3,500 videos resulting fromapproximately 5,000 calls. The RCMP is now evaluating that project.

The union representing thousands of boots-the-ground RCMP officers has said it supports the use of body-worn camerasbut wants clearer guidelines on when they can be turned off.

The Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer reported thatoutfitting RCMP officers with body-worn cameras at 700 detachments will cost about $131 million over five years.