As the deadline nears for responses to a survey seeking the public’s opinion on the potential use of body-worn cameras by Peterborough police, a spokesperson from the Peterborough Police Service says such outreach is a vital component of the community policing model at the core of its operations.
“If we are truly a community-based police service, then we need to be engaging the community whenever possible,” says Emily Jones, the service’s Community Development and Engagement Coordinator.
“In my position, I’m pretty mindful of the relationship between the community and police in general, making sure the polarization between community and police is lessened,” Jones says. “Any opportunity we can take to lessen that, I would like to take it. We continue to say we are a community-based police service and that we do community policing. I try to keep us accountable for that as best I can.”
The survey, being conducted in partnership with the Trent Community Research Centre with forensic science student Sabrina Wolanczyk taking the lead, is seeking input from residents of the City of Peterborough, the Village of Lakefield, and the Township of Cavan-Monaghan.
The survey can be found online at trentu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4NuHFe0YLLijHNA, where it will remain available until Monday, February 28th. Paper copies of the survey can be requested by calling the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 ext. 290.
While participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous, there are questions on age, gender, ancestry, career, and in which municipality the survey respondent resides or works.
According to Jones, the timing of the service’s outreach on officers’ use of body-worn cameras topic isn’t by accident.
“The issue around police-worn body cameras, although it has been around a long time, got really politicized over what has happened in the United States in the last couple of years,” says Jones. “Although what has happened in the United States is not always the reality in Canada, it’s still part of the dialogue here and so it’s still part of people’s concerns.”
Jones adds that, with a number of police services across Canada either reviewing the use of body-worn cameras or have implemented the measure (as is the case with the Toronto Police Service), the Peterborough Police Service sees a need to get the process started sooner rather than later.
“There is the factor of protection but, in the long run, they would help with evidence collection and more accountability,” she says of the advantages of body-worn cameras.
“The more the technology is available, and the more services use it across Ontario and Canada, the more likely it is that Peterborough is going to want to engage in that technology. We want to make sure the community feels comfortable before we make that decision.”
“Another reason for doing this now is we had an opportunity to partner with Trent. I’m not sure we would have had the capacity to do this without their help. It’s a really great way to engage younger folks who are doing research into community issues.”
Jones adds a separate survey on the issue is being circulated internally to garner the thoughts of officers and the service’s civilian employees.
“A lot of officers see the benefit of body-worn cameras but are very mindful of the added work that goes into it, including new policies and new training,” she explains. “The internal survey is very similar to the public survey, but it focuses a little bit more on ‘How is this going to impact your work?’ and ‘Do you think it’s going to benefit your work?'”
Once compiled, Jones says, the results of the public survey will be released as part of a final report expected to be completed on March 21.
“Because of the ethics involved in the research, she (Wolanczyk) has to make the results public. It’s our intention to facilitate that for her.”
Jones says the number of survey responses received to date has been beyond what she anticipated.
“We have done other surveys but I don’t know that they’ve been on this scale,” she points out.
Meanwhile, for those who may be wondering if their input will carry weight, Jones assures the information received will have an impact on the service’s decision on whether to proceed with body-worn cameras.
“The survey results are going to influence whatever goes forward. If the survey indicates yes — the community is interested in the service pursuing this — then it becomes a budgetary issue.”
Jones says the survey is a “preliminary starting point” for involving the broader community in an important decision that affects both police officers and the people they serve.
“This is about making sure the community is heard and making sure we are engaging with them,” she explains. “Police don’t exist in a vacuum and neither does the community.”
The survey is available online at trentu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4NuHFe0YLLijHNA until Monday, February 28th. To request a paper copy of the survey, call the Peterborough Police Service at 705-876-1122 ext. 290.
This story has been created in partnership with the Peterborough Police Service.
