Cape Breton police budget includes cameras for officers, cars and downtown streets

Cape Breton Regional Municipality's police commission has approved a budget increase that could see the force install cameras on officers, in cars and on downtown streets later this year.

Chief Robert Walsh said the budget grows every year mostly because of contractually obligated wage increases for unionized staff, but this year's increase includes about $700,000 for equipment. Much of that is for cameras and software.

In an interview following the police commission meeting Wednesday, Walsh said street-level security cameras will improve public safety and reduce crime downtown.

"We feel very strongly about the body-worn cameras as well, because this will enhance our service delivery," he said. "It provides an additional layer of transparency in our operations and again, that's about ensuring public confidence and trust in the work that we do."

The budget increase would allow the force to start outfitting some officers and streets with cameras, with plans to grow the number in the future.

The street security cameras would not be monitored live, but would provide pedestrians and business owners with a sense of protection and could be used in case an investigation is needed, Walsh said.

"We would have privacy constraints and there is legislation provincially that we would have to adhere to, but again, this has been done elsewhere in places like Charlottetown, even New Glasgow here in Nova Scotia, and so we're looking to seed this program and hopefully bring something new and innovative to our community to enhance public safety."

The current year's Cape Breton police budget is about $32.3 million.

The proposed budget for the coming year is up about $1.7 million to almost $34 million, or five per cent.

Just over $1 million of the increase is for wages and benefits.

The rest is for cameras, trunked mobile radios, other equipment, professional services, software, equipment leases and increased forensic lab costs.

Commissioner Ken Tracey, a former CBRM councillor who was not re-elected last fall, said it was important to provide police with the latest equipment.

"Without all these asks, we're just falling behind year by year by year," he said.

"I know that the chief and the staff do a bang-up job protecting our CBRM and this is just something that is just going to make us that much better."

Under a municipal staff reorganization, police will be taking over the municipality's 911 call centre this year.

Walsh said an officer would be stationed in the centre, which will help police decide whether they need to attend a call or not.

Cape Breton's police budget will now go before the full council for changes or approval by the end of the week.

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