Belleville Police Service first issued body-worn cameras (BWC) to officers in September 2021 as part of a 90-day free trial from Axon and by 2023 they were standard equipment.
Originally sold to the public as a tool for accountability and transparency and improving law enforcement – within a couple of years Belleville Police Service has been using footage as content during operating budget meetings and on social media.
When we’re living in such a litigious society right now and understanding the ramifications from public complaints, we believe that this is an opportunity for us to embrace the technology and use it to assist with the challenge of transparency in policing across North America.
Police Chief Mike Callaghan
During the 2024 operating budget meeting, Police Chief Callaghan said “instead of talking about facts and figures for my portion of the presentation today I’m going to talk to you about our budget and its human impact” and played body cam footage of an officer responding to a homicide call with his gun drawn where two armed suspects were still at large and had just run down a dimly lit laneway.
On social media, Belleville Police Service regularly post body-worn camera and car dashcam footage to their followers in order to “highlight the realities of policing in Belleville”:
The following body-worn camera footage is intended to provide transparency and highlight the realities of policing in Belleville.
The footage may contain sensitive content. Certain details have been redacted to protect the privacy of those involved.
While that may be the intent of sharing the videos, many comments on social media indicate the video’s apparent entertainment value:
This is my new favourite show
Bad Boys Bad Boys watcha gonna do
our very own episode of COPS!
Why did it end when and like it did? I was just getting “into” it…
I volunteer to help edit body cam footage to make this a regular tv series lol.
Other police services treat BWC footage as evidence, not content
Checking the social media accounts of other police services that have body-worn cameras and dashcams (except for Brockville) finds that they do not use the footage as social media content like Belleville Police:
- Toronto Police Service
- Peterborough Police Service
- Brockville Police Service
- Cobourg Police Service
- St. Thomas Police Service
- Sarnia Police Service
- Kingston Police Service
- Cornwall Police Service
Other types of videos Belleville Police posts that other police services do not post to social media include:
Note: Before July 10, 2025, Belleville Police Service’s social media accounts belonged to the Belleville Community Resource Unit.
Here are a few of the body and dashcam videos they’ve published online:
Officer tasing female who brandished a knife, referring to it as providing “Edison Medicine”
In this video, an officer tases a woman who brandishes a knife, referring to the clip as a “gem” and the tasing as providing a dose of “Edison Medicine“.
Just when my faith in Pink Floyd to mellow anyone out was at an all-time high, one of the patrol officers sent me this gem… One too many beers and some bad decisions led to a dose of “Edison Medicine” ⚡️ to calm this situation down.
-#228. #deescalation#lessleathal#bodyworncameras#rodgerwaters#pinkfloyd#bellevilleontario
Belleville Police Service on Facebook
Concerns
- Face is unredacted in multiple frames.
- Voices don’t seem to be disguised.
- The inside of a private dwelling is shown.
Individuals in crisis during apparent suicide attempts
This video is a collection of two individuals in emotional or mental health distress, including one sitting on the outside edge of the Norris Whitney Bridge.
🚨 Mental Health Matters 🚨
Every year, Belleville Police Service responds to hundreds of calls involving suicide attempts and mental health crises. Behind every call is a person in need—and we’re committed to showing up with compassion, patience, and support. 💙
If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Please reach out:
📞 Call 988 – the free, 24/7 Suicide Crisis Helpline 🌐 Visit AccessMHA.ca to find local mental health services in Belleville and surrounding areas.
Help is here. You matter. Let’s keep the conversation going. #MentalHealthMatters #988 #BellevillePolice#EndTheStigma#AccessMHA#YouAreNotAlone
Belleville Police Service on Facebook
Concerns
- Voices don’t seem to be disguised.
Officer arrests suspect with weapon at gunpoint
Responding to a bar fight, officers pursue and arrest two individuals at gunpoint.
Some folks just shouldn’t drink… When this fellow was kicked out of the bar, he didn’t take it well and decided to come back with a weapon to settle the score.
When officers responded to a simple fight call- things escalated fast. The involved individual had pulled a knife and took police on a short run. During the foot pursuit, officers encountered another person rushing in to assist the accused with a weapon of his own.
Two in custody, with a safe ending.
Stay alert. Stay safe. #PoliceWork#StayReady#OfficerSafety#RealityOfTheJob
Belleville Police Service on Facebook
Comments
This is my new favourite show
Bad Boys Bad Boys watcha gonna do
Concerns
- Voices don’t seem to be disguised.
Truck is boxed in and makes contact with police vehicle
Responding to a theft from a retail business, Belleville Police box a vehicle in, making contact and then smashing its windows.
On October 25th, members of the Belleville Police Service responded to a theft from a retail business. Police conducted a traffic stop, and the driver made attempts to evade police. The vehicle was boxed in and intentional contact was made to avoid a pursuit in the interest of public safety. The following is redacted dashcam footage of that incident.
It should be noted that all three accused were already out on probation orders for numerous serious offenses, including:
Driver: Possession of CDSA x2, Possession of a firearm without a license.
Passenger 1: Dangerous driving, taking a motor vehicle without consent, resisting arrest, and flight from police. She was also wanted on an endorsed arrest warrant for Failing to Comply with Probation and Theft.
Passenger 2: Mischief, Fail to Comply with Probation, Possess stolen property over $5000
All three were charged with Theft and Fail to comply with probation. The driver was additionally charged with dangerous operation, flight from police and assaulting a police officer. This incident is still before the courts.
Belleville Police Service on Facebook
Concerns
- Faces are unredacted in multiple frames.
- Voices don’t seem to be disguised.
Comments
our very own episode of COPS!
Why did it end when and like it did? I was just getting “into” it…
I volunteer to help edit body cam footage to make this a regular tv series lol.
This is only the trailer.. we want the rest of the episode
Vehicle pursuit and gunpoint takedown
Several Belleville Police vehicles pursue a vehicle and box it in and make contact. The Facebook account responds comments with meme GIFs.
Check out this vehicle try to evade Belleville PS this past Sunday… Again, officers were forced to make intentional contact to avoid a pursuit and conducted a gunpoint takedown.
The accused was originally wanted for disobeying his family court order. He was already on probation for numerous offenses, including gun charges and driving while prohibited.
He was also charged with Dangerous Drive, Flight Police, Operate while Prohibited, carrying a concealed weapon and refusing to comply with a physical coordination demand.
#bodyworncameras#policeofficer#policecar#cops
Belleville Police Service on Facebook
Footage posted to social media violates privacy and professional conduct standards
These posts include serious breaches of privacy and professional conduct standards under the Community Safety and Policing Act (CSPA) and Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).
Violation of Secondary Use (entertainment)
The footage was collected for law enforcement purposes. Using this sensitive record for social media content (evidenced by describing the clip as a “gem”, the “Pink Floyd” and “Edison Medicine” caption) is not a “consistent purpose.” It violates the restriction on secondary use of data.
An institution shall not use personal information in its custody or under its control except,
for the purpose for which it was obtained or compiled or for a consistent purpose;
Section 31 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)
Disclosure of Personal Information (missing voice distortion and face blurring)
MFIPPA requires strict anonymization when footage is released to the public.
An institution shall not disclose personal information in its custody or under its control except,
for the purpose for which it was obtained or compiled or for a consistent purpose;
Section 32 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)
The subject’s face was left unblurred in several frames of the video and her voice was clearly audible and not distorted to protect dignity and identity.
The failure to strip this personal information constitutes an unauthorized disclosure of personal privacy.
A police officer shall not disclose to the public information obtained or made available in the course of their duties as a police officer except as authorized in accordance with the procedures established by their chief of police, as necessary for the performance of the officer’s duties or as required by law.
CSPA O. Reg. 407/23 s. 17
Inconsistency with the “public interest”
The CSPA requires that the disclosure be for a specific, valid purpose:
Despite any other Act, a chief of police, or a person designated by him or her for the purpose of this subsection, may disclose personal information about an individual in accordance with the regulations.
Purpose of disclosure
(2) Any disclosure made under subsection (1) shall be for one or more of the following purposes:
Section 80 (2) of the CSPA
- Protection of the public.
- Protection of victims of crime.
- Keeping victims of crime informed of the law enforcement, judicial or correctional processes relevant to the crime that affected them.
- Law enforcement.
- Correctional purposes.
- Administration of justice, including the conduct of civil proceedings.
- Enforcement of and compliance with any federal or provincial Act, regulation or government program.
- Keeping the public informed of the law enforcement, judicial or correctional processes respecting any individual.
The Chief must consider what is reasonable, consistent with the law and in the “public interest”:
In deciding whether or not to disclose personal information under subsection 80 (1) of the Act, a chief of police or a designate shall consider the availability of resources and information, what is reasonable in the circumstances of the case, what is consistent with the law and the public interest and what is necessary to ensure that the resolution of criminal proceedings is not delayed.
Section 4 of O. Reg. 412/23
The Service cannot rely on CSPA s. 80(2) 8. (‘Keeping the public informed’) because the caption’s mocking tone indicates an intent to entertain rather than inform. Furthermore, the disclosure fails the mandatory test in O. Reg. 412/23 s. 4, which requires the decision to be ‘reasonable’ and consistent with the ‘public interest.’ It is neither reasonable nor in the public interest to broadcast a citizen’s crisis for social media engagement, particularly while failing to employ standard face blurring, private dwelling blurring and voice-distortion safeguards required to anonymize the footage.
The caption (“Just when my faith in Pink Floyd…”), the emojis, and the mocking tone (“gem,” “Edison Medicine”) serve an entertainment purpose, not an informative one. Courts and oversight bodies generally distinguish between educating the public and entertaining them at a citizen’s expense. Mocking a mental health crisis does not “keep the public informed” of a legal process – it creates a spectacle.
There is no “public interest” in humiliating a citizen who has already been subjected to a use of force. A disclosure that degrades human dignity (by mocking a Taser strike as “medicine”) is inherently inconsistent with the public interest.
Belleville Police’s policies are not available online as required by the CSPA
Belleville Police Service Board has not published policies regarding social media content and the use of video recordings as they are required to do by Section 38 (7) of the CSPA. If the Board has not established (or published) a policy governing the social media release of BWC footage, the Chief and the social media team are operating without public oversight.
This conduct severely undermines public trust. Citizens must feel confident that calling the police in a moment of crisis will not result in their worst moments being broadcast on Instagram for “likes” or mocked by the service they pay to protect them.
Guidelines say police must have policies and procedures for BWC footage use
In addition, the Information and Privacy Commissioner’s guidelines outline that police services should have a statement of principles committing to treating everyone fairly and equitably and respects the inherent worth and dignity of human beings:
Personal information collected by BWCs should only be used for the purpose for which it was collected or for a consistent purpose. The use of the information for secondary purposes is generally not permitted under Ontario’s access and privacy laws and should be strictly limited.
Policies and procedures should provide for public interest-based disclosure of BWC records in special circumstances to address compelling concerns about, for example, human rights and police use of force, as well as allegations of discreditable conduct, improper conduct,
or misconduct.If a decision is made to release BWC records in the public interest, measures should be employed to protect necessary confidentiality and to obscure any information that could be used to identify an individual. This may include blurring and voice distortion, unless the service is required by law to release the recording in another form or the affected individuals have consented to the release of their personal information.
At minimum, such a statement of principles should commit to using BWCs in a manner that:
Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
- is necessary and proportionate to the purposes of the program, clearly defined
- is transparent and accountable to the public
- upholds the integrity of the criminal justice system and the administration of justice
- protects individuals’ rights to information and privacy
- treats everyone fairly and equitably
- respects the inherent worth and dignity of human beings
Comments
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