NEWS RELEASE: ABC Vancouver to implement body-worn cameras for all VPD police officers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 6, 2022

VANCOUVER — ABC Vancouver announced today that an ABC Majority on Council will request that the Vancouver Police Board implement the use of body-worn cameras for all VPD police officers on patrol 24/7 starting no later than Summer 2025.

“As technology and best practices evolve, so must the City of Vancouver,” says ABC Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung. “Body-worn cameras will help improve transparency and accountability while protecting the safety of front-line police officers.”

Federally, body-worn cameras are part of the RCMP’s Vision 150 modernization plans where the RCMP will deploy between 10,000 and 15,000 body-worn cameras to contract and federal contract police officers who interact with communities.

“Body-worn cameras in other jurisdictions have greatly reduced legal costs for police departments, decreased investigation times, and have created certainty in those investigations,” says Brian Montague, ABC Council Candidate and 28-year VPD veteran who previously served as VPD Spokesperson. “Body-worn cameras are broadly supported by rank-and-file members and many community groups. Their usefulness in training cannot also be understated.”

ABC Vancouver has nominated nineteen candidates for the October 15th municipal elections; Ken Sim for Mayor; Lenny Zhou, Peter Meiszner, Brian Montague, Mike Klassen, and incumbent City Councillors Rebecca Bligh, Lisa Dominato, and Sarah Kirby-Yung for Council; Brennan Bastyovanszky, Laura Christensen, Angela Haer, Marie-Claire Howard, Scott Jensen, and Jas Virdi for Park Board; Alfred Chien, Preeti Faridkot, Victoria Jung, Christopher Richardson, and Josh Zhang for School Board.