Insp. Michael Barsky of TPS and second in command of the 52 division, is working on the body cam pilot project for on-duty officers to record interactions with the public.
He says this technology helps with transcribing interactions, for evidence in court and learning from some experiences. “The technology shows us if we are training our people properly,” he says.
“I believe that body cameras are the future of policing.” says Barsky.
Some have privacy concerns.
Brian Beamish, the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario addressed these concerns in a guidance document online.
It reads if the TPS decides to go beyond the pilot project, police should consider limiting use. Some suggestions were public awareness, how and where the footage is stored and not continuously recording.
According to the guidance document, “minimizing the personal information collected decreases the risk that personal information will be used or disclosed for inappropriate or unintended purposes.”
Other units are using new technology but not without some backlash as well. TPS forensics unit bought a facial recognition system, which is a type of biometrics, a few months ago.
Stephen Harris, director of Forensic Identification Services at TPS says this new technology “takes a photo of the potential suspect and compares it with their database of over one million mugshots and comes up with potential candidates.” It has significantly changed investigations, he says, making it easier than ever to identify a suspect.
Like body cams, there are also issues of privacy. Some people are concerned with the data being misused. Again, Beamish wrote about this.
“As biometric uses and databases grow, so do concerns that the personal data collected will not be used in reasonable and accountable ways.”
However, the commissioner’s office suggested biometrics could also be used to protect the data collected.
“The same technology that serves to threaten or erode our privacy may also be enlisted to strengthen its protection.” says Beamish. Privacy could be protected by only allowing access to personal information through a biometric key, such as facial or finger print recognition.
With new technology coming into the police force, it’s important that current and future officers are being well trained. “The men and women we hire will have to be more technically savvy,” says Insp. Barsky.
Henri Bérubé, program coordinator of Humber College’s police foundations program and former Peel region police officer is working hard to train students. He uses new technology to prepare students for the workforce.
Bérubé helped develop The Conflict Management Simulator to teach his students.
The Conflict Management Simulator at Humber College
“It’s a year-long project that puts students in simulation of an investigation where they have to complete the full process of the investigation.”
He says this technology helps train students for everyday police operations.
While the TPS doesn’t use the simulator it does have one goal: to ensure a safe community. Bérubé says technology helps makes that goal more achievable.