Red Deer RCMP and Municipal Policing Service will begin introducing body-worn cameras for general-duty and crime-reduction team officers.
“This is more than just new equipment for our members – it’s part of modernizing the way we serve Red Deer,” said Red Deer RCMP Supt. Holly Glassford.
“It reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability and public trust.”
In a media release issued on Thursday, March 20, police said body-worn cameras provide "a clear and unbiased record of interactions, encouraging respectful dialogue and behaviour, and often help to de-escalate tense situations."
"By capturing real-time events, they also provide valuable evidence to support investigations and strengthen court proceedings. BWCs also foster stronger relationships between the police and the community by reducing complaints and providing a means of resolving disputes faster," the media release states.
John Ferguson, Municipal Policing Services manager with the City of Red Deer, said he's "thrilled" to have community police officers join this initiative with the Red Deer RCMP.
“This initiative has the same merits for CPOs, and we are proud to be a part of this important step in modernizing policing practices and reinforcing public confidence in law enforcement,” said Ferguson.
Red Deer RCMP and Municipal Policing state they are committed to ensuring Red Deerians feel "protected and respected" by their police force.
"By implementing body-worn cameras, the organization is taking concrete steps to enhance accountability, improve public interactions and support a safer community," states the media release.
Alberta RCMP began the deployment of body-worn cameras to frontline officers in late 2024. The Sylvan Lake RCMP detachment received body-worn cameras in January 2025.
Overall, between 10,000 and 15,000 body-worn cameras will be deployed to contract and federal police officers who interact with communities across Canada's rural, urban, and remote locations. All frontline RCMP officers will be wearing body-worn cameras when the national rollout is complete.
The RCMP expects 50 per cent of cameras will be in operation the end of this month or April.
Officers will activate their body-worn cameras during calls for service, including mental health calls, interactions with people in crisis, crimes in progress, for investigations, public disorder and protests, and to record information to support the performance of their duties. Body-worn cameras are not intended to be used for the purpose of 24-hour recording, surveillance, or when intimate searches are conducted.
For more information on the body-worn camera initiative from the RCMP, visit rcmp.ca/en/body-worn-cameras.
