The Kingston Police Service Board has unanimously approved a motion directing Chief Adam MacIntosh to provide public reports on a proposed body-worn camera program, setting the stage for further consideration of the technology in the coming months.
The decision came during the board's meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, following a motion introduced by board chair Gregory Ridge and seconded by board member Wendy Stephen.
As Kingstonist previously reported, Ridge proposed requiring the chief to provide a detailed report by the board's November meeting, covering everything from implementation costs and privacy safeguards to community consultation and ongoing oversight.
However, an amendment brought forward during Thursday's meeting divided the reporting requirements into two stages, allowing additional time to prepare a comprehensive assessment while ensuring the board receives an initial public update in November.
Under the amended motion, MacIntosh is expected to provide an interim public report in November 2026 outlining the program's purpose and anticipated benefits, proposed scope, progress to date, preliminary costs where available, outstanding work, and next steps.
A more comprehensive report is required in February 2027, addressing financial and staffing requirements, implementation, governance, privacy and cybersecurity protections, procurement and vendor arrangements, training, community consultation, and ongoing monitoring.
The February report must also address how the proposed program aligns with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario's Model Governance Framework for Police Body-Worn Camera Programs.
Ridge explained that the amendment was intended to address logistical challenges associated with preparing all of the requested information for November. At the same time, he emphasized that the revised schedule should not delay decisions that may need to be made before the comprehensive report is presented.
The amended motion requires that information supporting any decisions needing board approval before February 2027 be provided when those decisions come forward.
The motion also provides for confidential information to be considered separately, where necessary, under the statutory requirements governing closed board meetings.
Chief MacIntosh expressed appreciation to the board for its support for this initiative, telling members he has been working toward a potential body-worn camera program for several months.
He noted that he had spoken publicly about the importance of body-worn cameras when he first became chief, and he said the board's support could help move the initiative closer to implementation.
MacIntosh said he believes the technology offers distinct advantages, and he thanked the board for its willingness to continue the process.
Ridge, meanwhile, reiterated that the proposed program is about accountability and transparency, as well as protecting police officers.
"There's two questions here. The first is about accountability and transparency to the public," Ridge told the board, adding that he expected that accountability to help increase public trust in policing.
Second, he pointed to the potential value of camera footage as evidence when an officer's conduct is called into question. "I consider body cameras [as a means] to protect people, either members of the public or members of the police," Ridge said.
Vice-chair Adam Koven also supported the initiative, citing discussions with an equipment provider and expressing confidence that the service could negotiate favourable arrangements for the technology.
The board's decision does not, however, constitute final approval to purchase or deploy body-worn cameras. The reports are intended to provide the Police Service Board with further information about the proposed program and identify decisions requiring the board's approval.
Matters still to be addressed include how many officers would be equipped with cameras, when the devices would be activated, how footage would be stored and managed, the program's ongoing costs, and the policies required to protect privacy and ensure accountability.
The additional workload associated with storing, reviewing, and disclosing video evidence has previously been raised as a concern for Kingston Police.
During a February 2025 presentation to the Police Service Board, then-Court Services Unit Staff Sergeant Geoff Dempster described the growing demands associated with digital evidence disclosure, including footage captured by body-worn cameras.
At that time, Dempster said the disclosure company used by Kingston Police recommended one full-time disclosure clerk for every 10 body cameras, illustrating the potential staffing implications of introducing the technology.
The amended motion requires the comprehensive report to include those financial, staffing, and records-management considerations.
The board is scheduled to receive its first public update on the proposed body-worn camera program at its next regular meeting on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026. A comprehensive report is expected in February 2027, although the motion allows the board to consider decisions requiring earlier approval before then.
The Kingston Police Service Board meets regularly at 12 noon on the fourth Thursday of each month (unless stated otherwise in the agenda) in the William Hackett Boardroom at Kingston Police Headquarters, 705 Division Street.
By Michelle-Dorey Forestell, LJI Reporter, The Kingstonist