The Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) will launch a six‑month body‑worn camera (BWC) pilot project beginning in June 2026 to evaluate the use of this technology.
Through this pilot, the Service will evaluate how Axon Body 4 cameras function in our policing environment and assess their potential to support transparency, accountability, public and officer safety, investigative and judicial outcomes in a way that meets the needs of the community.
Purpose of the Pilot
The pilot will involve the deployment of 40 body‑worn cameras to select frontline officers. This will allow the Service to test the full range of operational, training, and technological requirements associated with body‑worn camera use.
Participating officers will use the cameras during their regular duties, including responding to calls for service, self‑initiated interactions, and enforcement or investigative activities. The goal is to evaluate how the technology performs within normal policing operations, rather than in a controlled or limited setting.
At the conclusion of the pilot, the WPS will prepare a report outlining lessons learned, key observations, and recommendations to help guide future decisions regarding the use of body‑worn cameras and their potential impacts on police operations, partners, and the community.
Input from Public
Community engagement is an important component of this pilot project. The WPS will seek input from community members and partner organizations to better understand perspectives, questions, and concerns, and to ensure that the pilot is informed by meaningful input as it progresses.
Throughout the pilot project, a public survey will be available at this link. The survey will be open for one-month periods at the beginning, midpoint, and conclusion of the pilot to gather public feedback.
Cameras will be activated to capture audio and video during law‑enforcement activities such as dispatched calls for service, self‑initiated contacts, traffic stops, and other interactions with the public.
During the pilot project, 40 officers will be wearing body-worn cameras and will make a verbal notification statement that the interaction is being recorded. The body-worn camera will emit an audible tone when recording is activated. In addition, red flashing lights will be visible on the camera while it is recording.
When using a body-worn camera, officers will weigh the law enforcement objective against privacy concerns and take reasonable steps to lessen the impact on the individual’s privacy.
The body-worn camera recordings will be uploaded to and managed within the Service’s existing Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS), which provides secure cloud‑based storage and streamlined evidence disclosure to Manitoba Prosecution Services and the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba (IIU).
Standard operating procedures and training materials for the pilot were developed using national best practices and benchmarking. They align with the national policy framework for body‑worn cameras developed by the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), while remaining flexible enough to reflect the unique context and needs of Winnipeg.
Privacy has been a key consideration throughout the development of the pilot project. As part of the pilot project foundation, the Service completed a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) and has developed comprehensive policies and procedures to govern disclosure processes, retention requirements, and privacy considerations in sensitive situations.
Requests for records are governed by The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), evidentiary requirements, and applicable legislation.
Any release of video would be assessed in accordance with law, policy, privacy considerations, and investigative requirements.