Kitimat RCMP are the latest in the Northwest to roll out the use of bodycams.
The Department says residents of Kitimat will notice a change in the uniform of the Kitimat RCMP officers. The officers have just completed the training required and have been issued body worn cameras.
They say body-worn video (BWV) provides increased transparency, while offering a first-person view of what a police officer encounters.
Officers will activate their body-worn cameras during calls for service, including: mental health calls, interactions with people in crisis, crimes in progress for investigations, public disorder ,and protests.
Body-worn cameras are not intended to be used for the purpose of: 24-hour recording, surveillance, or when intimate searches are conducted.
The Terrace and Smithers Departments have also previously they’ll be rolling out body worn cameras for their officers.
Terrace RCMP also announced today that we can expect increased police presence on the ground this summer thanks to new funding.
Terrace RCMP say they’ve secured a significant amount of funding from the provincial government for overtime shifts, specifically for proactive patrols in targeted hot spot crime areas in terrace.
The funding is provided through the government of BC’s community safety and targeted enforcement program.
The force says that in in 2024, a grant was received from the special investigation and targeted enforcement (SITE) program, which was similarly used for additional overtime shifts.
They say officers on patrol received positive feedback from the community on this, and thanks to the positive outcome, Terrace RCMP were able to make successful application for the c-step funding for 2025.
The funding will provide an increase to downtown proactive patrols by officers, either on foot or bicycle.
Terrace can expect to see an increased police presence from June 27 through to October 18.