Tununiq MLA David Qamaniq wants to wear body cameras but Nunavut's police force says thereSA国际影视传媒檚 a technological roadblock preventing it.
NNSL file photo
SA国际影视传媒淭he biggest hindrance at this point is data storage,SA国际影视传媒� said Cpl. Dmitri Malakhov. SA国际影视传媒淒ata storage and management solutions are being evaluated.SA国际影视传媒�
When Qamaniq raised the matter in the legislative assembly on Oct. 31, Justice Minister Jeannie Ehaloak said NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 frigid weather may render the cameras inoperable.
Qamaniq isnSA国际影视传媒檛 buying either of those SA国际影视传媒減oor excuses,SA国际影视传媒� as he described them.
SA国际影视传媒淲ith the technology we have now, everything is possible,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey can hire a person to look after all that data.SA国际影视传媒�
As for the cold weather, Qamaniq said the arenSA国际影视传媒檛 out hunting on the land like Inuit.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey donSA国际影视传媒檛 stay outside all day long. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e in the office all day and the only time they go out is when they get a call,SA国际影视传媒� the MLA said.
ItSA国际影视传媒檚 due to physical altercations between officers and prisoners caught on camera in Iqaluit jail cells over the years as well as informal reports from Pond Inlet constituents of aggressive behaviour by police that Qamaniq wants body cameras in use.
SA国际影视传媒淭hey (police) are very abusive sometimes towards people that theySA国际影视传媒檙e trying to arrest. (ThereSA国际影视传媒檚) a lot of things we donSA国际影视传媒檛 see happening with the and Aboriginal people across Canada,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that heSA国际影视传媒檚 been approached by people in his community expressing support for his position.
Malakhov said the wonSA国际影视传媒檛 comment on an MLASA国际影视传媒檚 assessment of any incidents.
SA国际影视传媒淗owever, the public should rest assured that any and all complaints of police misconduct are investigated and when appropriate, the services of an external agency are requested to avoid a conflict of interest,SA国际影视传媒� Malakhov stated.
A Nunavut News Online Facebook post publicizing QamaniqSA国际影视传媒檚 view on body cameras received 156 positive reactions and 33 comments, the bulk of them in favour of such a measure.
The Tununiq MLA also mentioned the possibility of cameras mounted in vehicles but Malakhov dismissed that idea outright.
SA国际影视传媒淣o. Few interactions with police in Nunavut originate from a traffic stop,SA国际影视传媒� he stated.
There are 131 front-line officers in Nunavut. The estimated cost of supplying them with body cameras is unknown, according to Malakhov.
Nationally, the is continuing to evaluate the devices, he added.
SA国际影视传媒淎t this time, such cameras are deployed only for specific events, usually protests, with case-by-case approvals,SA国际影视传媒� said Malakhov.
The challenge of data storage, and the associated cost, has led several American police forces to abandon body cameras, according to a Jan. 21 report in the Washington Post. However, the law-enforcement agencies in question all comprised 50 officers or fewer.
Qamaniq said he plans to raise the issue again during the winter session of the legislative assembly in February.
