But once someone is charged, the evidence of this case will have to be reviewed, unfortunately for the victim's family, essential body cam footage that should have been captured by the on-duty cops seems to have never been recorded.
And according to the COMPOL action, or lack thereof goes against all department protocols which indicate that body cams should be worn and recorded at all times.
Here's what he told our Sunup hosts this morning when they ask him about the almost too convenient breaking of the rules.
Host:
"Chester, in regards to this incident as well, we understand that they were wearing body cams and none of them were on what do you make of that?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"The corporal who is in charge of the team did have the body cam on his body but again contrary to the rules of the department and our body cam policy that camera was turned off. That is for us a breach of discipline, a breach of department policy and so for that, the officer in question will be dealt with because he was the person in charge and he ought to have made sure that the body cam was running and that was not the case."
Host: "Some would say isn't it a little bit too convenient or so in the midst of this whole frantic chase and everything that the body cam is off?"
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Well, that..."
Host:
"Or could it have been on and then deleted."
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Certainly Renata that is a logical assumption and it was not recording for the entire night, so the whole tour that they had it on, had the body cam with them it wasn't being used and again perhaps it has a lot to do with the fact that our policy is that they must wear the body cam but the policy went further to say that the body cam must be turned on. It only gives you two or three circumstances where the camera must be turned off, one would be with dealing with a minor of a sexual offence, a sexual offence nature, and then the other one would be if you are meeting a confidential informant, then you would turn the body camera off. In the absence of those then the body, the cam must be on."
The COMPOL says there is a system through which the department can ascertain when the body cams were turned off.
