The privacy commissioner has slammed the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay in his report on their use of body cams and the policy around it.
The town council first approved the cameras for enforcement officers a year ago but quickly “deferred” the plan when privacy commissioner Michael Harvey got wind of it.
At the time, Mayor Wally Andersen said the town wanted to do more research, with Harvey saying discussions were informal and positive.
However, Harvey had serious concerns, not the least of which was the fact he only heard about the plan through the media, and while the town did put the body cams on hold, Harvey says they also stopped responding to him.
Then last fall, after several incidents, the town started using them, saying they could protect its employees and the public.
Harvey again found out through the media, and again his inquiries were ignored.
That’s when the gloves came off and he launched a formal investigation, saying it was the only way he could get the town’s attention.
It also gave Harvey more legal power to force the town’s hand on his recommendations or, one way or another, end up in court.
He said the notion that officers may have collected personal information without the right to do so is quite troubling.
Harvey says the body cam program, whether it’s on hold or not, should be scrapped and the town should start over from scratch.
He has declined comment, noting his report is now in the legal realm.
The town also declined, saying council needs time to review and discuss it.