WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Police Board is suggesting the police body-worn camera project be cut, for now.
A motion to be presented to city council on behalf of the police board Tuesday will seek to transfer $1 million from the capital budget to the operating budget by getting rid of the body-worn camera project. The pilot program was approved last year as a test case to see if officers wearing a camera on their chests would reduce complaints against police and also reduce the use of force by officers wearing them.
“This would be done in effort to avoid layoffs of cadets and recruits,” Scott Gillingham, Chair of the Police Board said.
READ MORE: Winnipeg police cadets on the chopping block: Chief
The 2016 operating budget recommends $280.7 million in spending for city police, while the police service said it needs an additional $2.45 million. Councillors will vote on the budget on Tuesday.
Winnipeg Police Chief Devon Clunis has said the shortfall would lead to the elimination of 80 jobs.
READ MORE: Winnipeg police cuts loom as budget vote approaches
“The board and board staff and the service staff have worked very hard over the last several days to try and identify ways to fund the $2.4 million shortfall – this idea came out of those discussion,” Gillingham said.
If the police board motion is passed that will leave $1.45 million to be found to avoid cuts.
“We haven’t closed the door to the body worn camera project, permanently,” Gillingham said.
RELATED: Winnipeg police to pilot use of body-worn cameras
The police board chair says part of the decision was based on what other cities have been doing. Gillingham says earlier this year, Edmonton decided it wouldn’t implement a body-camera program city-wide because costs were too high.
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