City parking officers to get body-worn cameras as violent incidents rise

What happened: The city is moving forward with a plan to have its parking enforcement officers wear body-worn cameras, in an effort to prevent abuse and assaults by the public. 

The use of cameras is “being assessed as a potential preventative measure to reduce rising incidents of violence against staff,” the city told Vancity Lookout. The cameras will be used as part of a six-month pilot project, according to city documents. 

Why?: Incidents of inappropriate public behaviour toward city staff are increasing in frequency, complexity, and intensity, according to a city presentation from late 2024. 

• Behaviours commonly experienced by city staff ranged from verbal aggression and intimidation to threats and physical violence. The report stated that these sorts of incidents have become regular occurrences.

Parking enforcement officers reported daily “verbal abuse or threats while on patrol,” with an officer being assaulted once every two weeks in 2023. The report noted that the frequency of assaults has increased since then. 

Warren Williams, president of a union representing parking enforcement officers, said he welcomes the initiative and believes it will begin with a small number of officers, according to BIV. 

The details: The city has given notice that it intends to enter into a contract with Axon Canada to “acquire services and supply” for the pilot project. The city won’t be charged a fee during the pilot project. However, the contract’s length and pricing can be changed by mutual agreement. 

• When reached for comment, the city could not provide a specific timeline for when the pilot would begin, telling Vancity Lookout they are still finalizing plans and will share more information in the “near future.”

Background check: Axon, a multinational technology and hardware company that creates products for law enforcement, already has a supply agreement for body-worn cameras with the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), which began using Axon cameras in 2024 as part of a pilot project. The VPD is now expanding the program from 100 to 900 officers.  

• The city’s agreement with Axon to get cameras for parking enforcement staff is separate from the VPD contract; however, the city’s new agreement would be “leveraging on the current contract,” according to the notice.