The move would see HPS buy 650 cameras from Axon, a technology company based in the United States, at a total program cost of about $15.5 million over five years. Pictured: Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen. Photo Credit: Hamilton Police Service.
Hamilton Police Service (HPS) Chief Frank Bergen recently submitted a report to the Hamilton Police Services Board recommending the implementation of body-worn cameras for officers.
The move would see HPS buy 650 cameras from Axon, a technology company based in the United States, at a total program cost of about $15.5 million over five years.
Included in that cost, the program would require an additional five full-time Digital Evidence Management Clerks, an additional full-time Desktop and Mobile Support Technician, and an additional Sergeant to serve as Program Coordinator.
The cost also includes two sets of camera replacements at the 30- and 60-month phase of the contract and also includes licensing for digital evidence management.
HPS is already paying $4.5 million over five years for digital evidence management licensing.
A breakdown of the cost over five years shows that hardware and software would cost about $11.7 million, paying for five full-time Digital Evidence Management Clerks would cost about $2.2 million, paying a new Program Coordinator would be $858,000 and a new full-time Desktop and Mobile Support Technician would cost $515,500.
As for equipment, five new workstations would cost $25,000, five new computers, monitors and telephones would be $16,000, and technician equipment would come in at $3,000.
Broken down by year, year one of program implementation would be about $3.8 million while each of years two through five would be about $2.9 million.
HPS has been reviewing the possibility of body-worn camera technology for front-line officers for a number of years, with the topic first brought up in 2014.
In April 2023 HPS received a $1.6 million grant from the Government of Ontario to install Automated Licence Plate Readers and in-car cameras on their vehicles.
That technology is already fully implemented, with 78 vehicles equipped with the systems.
Bergen says that in-car cameras and licence plate readers are having “a positive impact on transparency and evidence gathering” which is part of what is convincing HPS to move forward with body-worn cameras as well.
The recommendation report from Bergen also comes after a February 2024 Hamilton Police Service Board meeting where board members requested that HPS provide an updated review of the positives and negatives of a body-worn camera program.
Bergen writes, “While proponents argue that body-worn cameras can enhance officer safety, improve public trust, and provide valuable evidence in investigations, critics emphasize the potential strain on resources and the need for rigorous policies to govern their use.”
The Police Services Board will be deciding how to proceed with the recommendation.
Bergen also proposed three alternatives for the board to consider.
He wrote that HPS can consider deploying a small number of body-worn cameras instead of a full rollout, consider not deploying the cameras and simply review the technology on an annual basis, or HPS can stop future consideration and research into the technology.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
