Sault police begin wearing body cameras

Front-line police officers in Sault Ste. Marie are getting body cameras to record interactions and will be fully operational in the coming weeks.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service said Monday that all frontline officers are being equipped with body-worn cameras.

“The new technology is expected to be fully operational in the next few weeks as patrol services officers are trained,” police said in a news release.

“This initiative is currently in its pilot phase, with officers in traffic services testing the new technology. Once fully deployed, the cameras will record interactions between officers and the public, providing an objective record to support investigations, strengthen evidence collection and enhance accountability.”

The cameras activate automatically when officers within a set radius turn on their emergency lights or sirens or unholster a taser.

When body-worn cameras are not automatically turned on, officers will be responsible for activating the cameras manually.

“Body-worn cameras are an important tool for building trust with the community,” police Chief Hugh Stevenson is quoted as saying in the news release.

“They provide a clear and unbiased record of interactions, ensuring accountability for both officers and the public. This technology reflects our commitment to transparency, safety, and trust in modern policing.”

The cameras will display a red LED light when recording and police will tell the public during every interaction that they have are recording audio and video while they talk.

Evidence from the cameras reduces investigative time for public complaints and streamlines court proceedings.

Video footage will be stored on a cloud-based platform managed by AXON Canada, with strict access controls and audit logs to ensure data integrity.

Policies are in place to comply with provincial privacy laws, including the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Community Safety and Policing Act.

“Sensitive information will be redacted as necessary to protect individual privacy during legal disclosures,” police said.