Police in Thunder Bay start using body cameras, in car cameras to come

expert panel

Police officers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are wearing body cameras starting today.

The force says the devices will eventually be worn by all front-line officers and those in the traffic unit.

It says police cruisers will also be equipped with in-car cameras.

The full rollout is expected to be complete by June.

The use of body-worn and in-car cameras was among 44 recommendations made in a 2018 report called Broken Trust Indigenous People and the Thunder Bay Police written by Office of the Independent Police Review Director.

“Make it a mandatory requirement that all officers must wear body cameras at all times they are on duty,” the report said.

The report identified systemic racism and other issues it said contributed to a “crisis of trust” between the force and First Nations Peoples in the area.

A follow-up report released last year found police had taken encouraging steps to address racism in its ranks but stressed more needed to be done.

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