In a significant move towards greater transparency and accountability, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Manitoba has commenced the deployment of body-worn cameras for its officers. This initiative is part of the RCMP’s ongoing efforts to foster trust and improve interactions between the police and the communities they serve.
The rollout began on November 22, 2024, with the Steinbach detachment being the first to receive the cameras. Other detachments, including Portage la Prairie, Amaranth, Treherne, East St. Paul, Grand Marais, Selkirk, and St-Pierre-Jolys, will follow suit over the coming months. By April 2025, over 490 officers across 44 detachments, including those serving various First Nation communities, are expected to be equipped with these cameras.
The implementation of body-worn cameras will be supported by a digital evidence management system designed to store and manage the recorded video. This system aims to provide an independent and objective means of documenting interactions between RCMP officers and the public, thereby increasing trust and facilitating quicker resolution of public complaints.
Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy, Commanding Officer of Manitoba RCMP, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “Communities have been asking for more accountability and transparency in policing. We are very pleased to say that the RCMP has listened and is deploying body-worn cameras throughout Manitoba. With today’s launch, it truly demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the trust between the Manitoba RCMP and the communities we so proudly serve throughout the province.”
The deployment will continue in phases, with the goal of equipping all detachments in Manitoba with body-worn cameras and the accompanying digital evidence management system within the next 18 months. This initiative represents a significant step forward in modernizing policing practices and strengthening community relations in Manitoba.
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