July 1, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Police Commissioners map out rules for body cameras

(Thinkstock)
(Thinkstock)

The Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners will review proposed rules today for the use of body cameras, which Los Angeles Police Department officials plan to provide officers over the coming months, with one critic of the policy saying that the rules fail to address when video footage should be released to the public.

The department is expected to assign 860 Taser Axon body cameras — donated to the city through Los Angeles police commission fundraising efforts — to officers in the Central, Mission and Newton police divisions.

Mayor Eric Garcetti recently proposed buying another 7,000 cameras to outfit all of LAPD’s patrol officers.

The proposed rules address questions of when the video cameras must be turned on, how long the recordings should last, how the devices are to be maintained and inspected, how the footage should be stored and if officers are allowed to immediately view the recordings.

Under the proposed policies, officers involved in use-of-force incidents, such as police shootings, would not be allowed to view footage from the body camera unless the force investigator gives permission, but officers must view the video before being interviewed by investigators.

This provision drew criticism from Peter Bibring, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, who said that allowing officers who are involved in police shootings or other force incidents to review the recordings prior to making their initial statements is “problematic.”

“The purposes of body-worn cameras is to provide greater accountability, but allowing officers to view video before making a statement seriously undercuts this and turns what should be a tool for accountability into a tool that could help officers cover-up misconduct,” Bibring told City News Service.

He said officers’ statements about the incident could be “tainted” the same way showing witnesses video footage could taint their testimony. He also said officer’s who are dishonest could use the recordings to their advantage by citing alleged activities that occur outside the frame of the camera.

Oakland police and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department have both adopted camera policies that require officers to give statements before being allowed to view video footage, Bibring said.

Bibring added that police officials made an “important omission” in their proposed body camera policy by not answering the question of when body camera video should be released.

“They need to have a policy for it,” he said. “It goes directly to the question of how these cameras are used to promote transparency.”

“Although some video should not be made public … there are situations like shootings and other critical incidents where the public has a very strong interest in understanding the way the police behaves,” Bibring said.

Bribing said Beck recently refused to immediately release body camera footage taken of a the police shooting on Skid Row of a homeless man, giving a hint as to how future body camera footage may be handled.

The proposed policies also call for body cameras to be activated before an investigation or enforcement action begins, such as vehicle or pedestrian stops, car and foot chases, searches, arrests, use-of-force, witness and victim interviews, and crowd control.

If officers are unable to activate the cameras in time, or if the cameras fail to record, the officers must note the reasons and circumstances in a daily log.

Under the rules, officers would be allowed to stop recording if the witnesses or victims being interviewed say they will not make a statement on camera, and as long as the encounter is not confrontational.

Officers can decide not to record if they feel it would interfere with an investigation — such as in a rape, incest or sexual assault cases — or due to a victim’s or witness’ age, emotional or physical state or other sensitive factors.

They can also deactivate the camera if they feel the life of an undercover officer or informant is in danger, and if they are in a healthcare area with patients or at a rape treatment center.

Related Posts

(Video) Los Angeles County Supervisor from the 2nd district, Holly J. Mitchel, Gives a Powerful Speech

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Supervisor Mitchell Called on Residents to take action at the rally for Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano in Culver City.

Top Military Commander Urges Return of Troops Deployed to ICE Protest Response

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

General Requests 200 National Guard Soldiers Be Returned to California Wildfire Unit The senior U.S. military officer overseeing federal forces...

Second Victim Killed Alongside LAPD Sergeant in Brentwood 405 Crash Identified

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Authorities Confirm Garcia, 34, Died at the Scene, GoFundMe Launched  Authorities have identified the civilian who was killed alongside a...

The Westside Lights Up for July 4: Fireworks, Drone Shows, and Parades Return Across West Los Angeles

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

From Marina Del Rey’s Fireworks to Culver City’s 1980s-Themed Drone Show, Get Ready to Celebrate From fireworks over Marina del...

Historic Sawtelle Nursery Site Could Become 40-Unit Townhome Complex

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Sawtelle Continues to Change as Nursery Site Faces Redevelopment Plans have been submitted to redevelop a nursery site, F.K. Nursery,...

California Judge Rules FAIR Plan’s Smoke Damage Policy Unlawful

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Court Says Wildfire Insurance Program Illegally Denied Claims Legal protections for California homeowners took a step forward this week after...

(Video) Culver City Residents and City and County Leaders Rally for Disappeared Ice Cream Man Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

US Representative for California’s 37th Congressional District, Sydney Kamlager-Dove Speaks About What is happening to the disappeared.

Drake Slashes Price on Beverly Hills Estate to $79 Million Amid Market Slowdown

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Price Cut Adds to a Broader Retreat From His Los Angeles Real Estate Holdings. Musician Drake has reduced the price...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

Overdose Deaths Drop 22% in Los Angeles County, Marking Largest Decline on Record

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Fentanyl Fatalities Fell 37% as County Ramps up Funding for Prevention, Treatment Drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County declined...

Cinespia Brings Fireworks and Fan Favorites to Hollywood Forever This July

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Watch Top Gun, La La Land, and More Under the Stars at Hollywood Forever Cinespia, Los Angeles’ iconic outdoor movie...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Robbery Suspects Captured in Beverly Hills After License Plate Alert Triggers Pursuit

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Foot Chase Ends in Arrests After ALPR Flags Robbery Vehicle in Beverly Hills An alert from the Beverly Hills Police...

EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles Returns with Star Chefs, Firefighter Tribute, and Wildfire Relief Efforts

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Culinary Festival Features Exclusive Restaurant Collabs, Support for Small Businesses  EEEEEATSCON Los Angeles, the celebrated food festival curated by The...

Supporters to Gather This Weekend for Longtime Culver City Paleta Seller Held in Detention

June 27, 2025

June 27, 2025

Family and Neighbors Will Gather Sunday to Sell Paletas and Raise Funds Supporters will gather this Sunday at Veterans Park...