Support for LAist comes from
Local and national news, NPR, things to do, food recommendations and guides to Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire
Stay Connected
Listen

Share This

News

L.A. County Sheriff's Department Unveils New Body Camera Policy

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department vehicle (David McNew/Getty Images)
()

Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.

When L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted last year to buy body cameras for the sheriff's department, the vote came with a caveat: First, they needed to know when and how they'd be used.

On Thursday, sheriff's officials presented those proposed body cam guidelines to the department's civilian oversight commission.

Under the draft policy, deputies would have to turn on body cameras in any interaction with the public, from traffic stops to the use of force.

LASD Commander Chris Marks said that if an officer turned off or obscured their camera, they would be required to provide a reason, "so there's no question why suddenly the video goes dark, and then something, you know, terrible happens."

Support for LAist comes from

A new California law requires the release of body camera footage of an officer-involved shooting or other major use of force, unless it would substantially interfere with an investigation.

Marks said the sheriff's department would allow deputies involved in a shooting to review body cam video before writing a statement about what happened. That part of the proposed policy concerned some commission members.

"It smacks of something that is less than transparent for the community," said commissioner Lael Rubin.

The release of footage from body cameras worn by police has cut both ways, at times validating the officer's accounts and actions and at other times telling a very different story.

It's unclear when the Board of Supervisors will consider the body cam rules. At the time of the September vote, officials said $35 million had been set aside in the county budget to acquire the equipment.

MORE ON BODY CAMERAS

How LA's Sheriff Plans To Deploy Body Cameras For A Lot Less Money

Support for LAist comes from

Here's The First Body Cam Video Released Under the LAPD's New Policy

Disturbing Video Shows San Bernardino Police Officer Fatally Shooting Unarmed Man

As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.

Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.

We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.

Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.

Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

Chip in now to fund your local journalism
A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right
(
LAist
)

Trending on LAist