VPD to wear body cameras when ensuring campers clear out of Oppenheimer Park
Posted October 14, 2014 11:57 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Police in Vancouver will be armed with cameras tomorrow as they ensure some homeless campers are peacefully cleared out from Oppenheimer Park.
There are eight cameras that can be attached to officers’ chests, but Chief Jim Chu says exactly how many cameras will be used depends on how much enforcement is needed.
He claims they aren’t anticipating any problems tomorrow, but they just want to make sure rules are followed and everything is peaceful.
“You’re entitled to film in public places, all the cameramen know that. This is just an extension of something we’ve always been doing for certain events, but instead of a hand held or pole mounted camera, we have the body-worn video.”
Chu thinks many of the campers will also have their own cameras.
The campers have been set up in the park for several months, but last week a judge ruled they need to be out by 10 p.m. tomorrow due to safety concerns. After that, police are allowed to go in and assist in their removal.
The cameras are part of a pilot project but at this point, they won’t be worn all the time, due to the cost of using them.
