Ottawa police deploy 200 body cameras for frontline officers by year end
The Ottawa Police Service is expanding its body-worn camera program from a 30-unit pilot to more than 200 cameras for frontline officers, with 880 planned by the end of 2027.
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Ottawa Police Service is deploying more than 200 body-worn cameras for frontline and specialized officers by the end of 2026, CTV News Ottawa reported on October 29. The move expands a pilot of 30 cameras that began in November 2025, which were assigned mostly to the service's Crisis Intervention Team.
Officers have been training on the equipment at a facility since mid-September 2026. Inspector Iain Pidcock told CTV that the training covers both how to use the cameras and the policies that govern when to turn them on.
How the cameras work
The cameras do not record continuously. Officers activate them during designated calls, investigations and enforcement activities. They stay off during routine foot patrols and peaceful protests, but a quick tap can start them if a situation changes. They also start recording automatically when an officer draws a Taser or firearm.
Beyond video, the cameras include tools that transcribe recordings and help officers draft police reports. Sergeant Sean Convey, who was in the original pilot, said the cameras have already helped in his work. He told CTV that announcing to someone that everything is being recorded can reduce tension at a scene.
The service has also used the cameras to communicate with residents who do not speak English. CTV reported that footage from last winter showed an officer using the camera's tools to speak with a lost woman who spoke Cantonese.
A promise made during the campaign
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe included body cameras for police in his October 15 platform. He said he would provide funding to equip the service with them. The program now underway is the first step toward that commitment.
Councillor-elect Laura Dudas, who won the Innes ward, also made body cameras part of her campaign. She told CTV News Ottawa during the campaign that police neighbourhood teams, the traffic unit and body cameras need the resources to keep running.
Chief Eric Stubbs said the cameras help officers capture evidence, provide context during complex interactions, and give the public insight into how those interactions unfold. The service plans to add 650 more cameras through 2027, bringing the total to 880 across Ottawa.
Privacy and accountability
The program follows years of calls for body-worn cameras, including recommendations from reviews of the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi during an encounter with Ottawa police. The service says the program includes privacy safeguards governing who can access footage, how long it is stored and when it is deleted. The service has confirmed that facial recognition will not be used through the cameras or related systems.
Ottawa residents who want to know more about how Ottawa Police Service uses the cameras can contact the service directly or watch for updates through the Ottawa 2026 news page.
Questions this story answers
How many body cameras will Ottawa police have by the end of 2026?
The Ottawa Police Service plans to have more than 200 body-worn cameras deployed for frontline and specialized officers by the end of December 2026, according to CTV News Ottawa's October 29 report. This is an expansion of a pilot program that started with 30 cameras in November 2025, which were assigned mostly to the Crisis Intervention Team.
When did Ottawa police first use body-worn cameras?
Ottawa police started a pilot of 30 body-worn cameras in November 2025, assigned mostly to the Crisis Intervention Team. Officers have been training on the cameras at a facility since mid-September 2026. The expansion to more than 200 cameras for frontline and specialized officers is happening by the end of 2026.
Do Ottawa police body cameras record all the time?
Ottawa police body cameras do not record continuously. Officers activate them during designated calls, investigations and enforcement activities. They remain off during routine foot patrols and peaceful protests. They start recording automatically when an officer draws a Taser or firearm. The service says the cameras follow policies governing when and how recordings are handled.
How many body cameras will Ottawa police have in total by 2027?
The Ottawa Police Service plans to add another 650 cameras through 2027, which would bring the total to 880 across the city, according to Chief Eric Stubbs as reported by CTV News Ottawa on October 29, 2026. The first 200 are expected by the end of 2026.
Why did Ottawa police start using body cameras?
CTV News Ottawa reported that the body camera program follows years of calls for the technology, including recommendations that came after the 2016 death of Abdirahman Abdi during an encounter with Ottawa police. Chief Eric Stubbs said the cameras can help officers capture evidence, provide context during complex interactions, and give the public greater insight into how those interactions unfold.
Can Ottawa police use facial recognition with their body cameras?
Ottawa Police Service has said that facial recognition will not be used through the cameras or related systems, according to CTV News Ottawa's October 29 report. The service says the program includes privacy safeguards governing access, storage and retention of footage.
Did Mayor Mark Sutcliffe promise body cameras for Ottawa police?
Yes. Mayor Mark Sutcliffe's campaign platform from October 15, 2026 said he would provide funding to equip the police service with body cameras. The expansion now underway, with more than 200 cameras being deployed by December 2026, is the first step toward that commitment. You can track this promise on his page at /on/ottawa-2026/candidates/mark-sutcliffe.
What can the Ottawa police body cameras do besides record video?
Besides recording video and audio, the body cameras deployed by Ottawa Police Service are equipped with tools that transcribe recordings and help generate draft police reports, according to CTV News Ottawa. The service says this may save officers time and support investigations. The cameras also carry audio translation tools, which officers have used to communicate with residents who speak languages other than English.
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