The next time you see a public security officer on patrol in Vaudreuil-Dorion, you might want to say cheese.
Public security officers in Vaudreuil are now being outfitted with body cameras for when on patrol.
The officers have control to turn the cameras on and off at their discretion, a city spokeswoman confirmed, saying it allows for people's privacy is respected when needed but also maintains accountability for officers in their interactions with citizens.
It's similar to what was done in Montreal in 2016. The city was the first in Quebec at the time to outfit its local police force with body cameras.
Since then, human rights advocates like Fo Niemi have been wondering why they haven't heard much.
"We need the city to say where the project is at and what is the next step, because this will certainly enhance police-citizen relations and enhance accountibility," the director of the Centre for Research Action of Race Relations said.
In May 2016, the City of Montreal began a nine-month pilot project outfitting about 40 officers with body cameras.
Since, the Montreal police force has faced scandals of spying on journalists and alleged evidence fabrication, and its police chief was suspended and replaced on an interim basis by the head of the provincial Surete du Quebec.
Niemi says it seems the results of the pilot project were lost in the shuffle.
A City of Montreal spokesperson could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.