---
title: "Ottawa police deploy 200 body cameras for frontline officers by year end"
description: "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."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/ottawa-police-body-cameras-2026-10-29"
last_updated: "2026-10-29T23:57:01.666Z"
---

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](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/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](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/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](/on/ottawa-2026/news).

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