Calgary police to ramp up camera presence in vehicles

Armed with a reinforced budget for 2012, the Calgary Police Service is preparing to install video cameras in virtually all of its vehicles.

The police say putting cameras in its cars will help protect officers and the public, as well as capture valuable evidence for court cases.

In a CBC Newsexclusive, reporter Scott Dippel got a first-hand look from acting Sgt. Evel Kiez as he demonstrated how the police in-car video system works with a recording of a speeding driver on Deerfoot Trail.

"See, now I'm getting a hit of 131, so someone's coming up fast, here he comes here," said Kiez as he points out the speeding MINI Cooper driving by.

With installation startingin 2007, Calgary police now have in-car audio and video recording systems in23vehicles and two helicopters.

Kiez saysthe plan is to havea total of 350 police vehicles with video camerasby 2013at a cost of$1.8 million to record everything from traffic stops to collisions, routine arrests to car chases.

Cameras everywhere are already recording police officers on the job, Kiez says,from security cameras to cell phones, but this will generate more evidence the police can use in court.

"What we're trying to achieve here is get the best video and the best audio so we get the full officer contact with the public, so there's no wrong-doing on the part of the officer and no wrong-doing on the part of the suspect or the accused," he said, adding it also helps quash frivolous complaints against police members.

When officers return to the station, the video wirelessly uploads andthere aremeasures in place to restrict tampering. In a crash situation, a sensor automatically activates the camera.