Should Winnipeg police wear bodycams? Debate reignited following fatal ‘officer-involved shooting’

It’s a question many are asking after a man was killed following what Winnipeg Police call an ‘officer-involved shooting.’ @swiddarassy

By Swidda Rassy

After a man was killed following what Winnipeg police are describing as an “officer-involved shooting,” many in the city are wondering why officers don’t wear body cameras.

“It seems that whenever there’s a form of police misconduct like a shooting of a citizen that this issue of body cameras raises its head again,” said Dr. Kelly Gorkoff, the Criminal Justice department chair at the University of Winnipeg.

The latest incident happened during a traffic stop in St. James Saturday evening, police say.

Around 7:30 p.m., officers were reportedly looking to take a man with outstanding warrants into custody. It happened around Portage Avenue at Bourkevale Drive.

Manitoba’s police watchdog says “a use of force encounter occurred,” resulting in the officer firing their weapon. The man was then taken to Health Sciences Centre, where he died from his injuries.

The Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU) is investigating.

Markus Chambers, the chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, says bodycams will provide a better picture of police and public interaction when it comes to the use of force.

“It’s more so on accountability,” said Chambers. “It’s accountability of police and accountability of the community.”

Police body camera. (Credit: Peel Regional Police)

But criminologist Kelly Gorkoff says body cameras on police officers can do more harm than good.

“The idea I suppose is that body cameras are supposed to improve transparency and accountability,” said Gorkoff. “But the research on body cameras is inconclusive and in fact some research suggests that police who wear body cameras escalate situations.”

Gorkoff says the potential funding for body-worn cameras should instead go towards solutions that address crime.

“If body cameras are the current ask of an organization that’s already in a defensive position, as a taxpayer – let alone a criminologist researcher – I would think that what they’re going to use those body cameras to accomplish is not for the greater good,” said Gorkoff. “It’s not for the good of the citizens.”

Chambers says when it comes to Winnipeg police officers using bodycam in the future, it’s not a matter of “if” but “when.”

“As our knowledge and functionality around technology advances, body-worn cameras is likely a way we are going to go in the future,” he said.

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