Montreal police to get body cameras following years of debate

Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada announced on Friday that Montreal police officers will soon be equipped with body cameras, concluding years of debate on the matter. The cameras, which cost a total of $40 million, will be distributed to 3,500 officers and dashcams with automated license plate readers will be installed on approximately 600 patrol vehicles. This initiative aims to protect city employees from abuse and improve overall accountability.

The decision to implement body cameras comes after a scandal erupted at a Montreal North police station in June, where allegations of criminal behavior and misconduct led to the dismantling of a 16-member patrol unit. Two officers were suspended, and 14 others were reassigned. Mayor Ferrada believes that the cameras will help prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.

Montreal joins other cities like Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver, where body cameras are already widely used. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has equipped 80% of its officers with the technology. Although Montreal police officers had previously used body cameras during a pilot project several years ago, they were never fully implemented.

In addition to the body camera rollout, the city plans to adopt a rule banning insults toward city employees, including police. If adopted, police officers will have the power to issue fines for anyone who insults them or another municipal employee. However, the mayor made it clear that the goal of this bylaw is to protect city employees from abuse, not to prevent criticism.

Jim Beis, responsible for public security at the city's executive committee, also mentioned that Montreal will be reviewing its police stop practices as part of this initiative.