LAPD's roving eye

Fresh video for the local news and realty TV? Looks like after years of talking about, the LAPD is finally going to install video cameras on police cars. The LAPD picked a $5 million IBM system is already used by the Santa Barbara sheriff and Beverly Hills PD (ritzy company!). Reports The Times' Patrick McGreevy:

The cameras also may help the LAPD comply with a federal consent decree requiring efforts to prevent racial profiling in traffic stops, because there will be a video and audio record of every stop that can be reviewed by supervisors. Officers are fitted with wireless microphones that can pick up sound even when they leave the patrol car. Police agencies began installing video cameras in patrol cars in the late 1980s. There were more than 17,500 such cameras in cars by 2004

What do you think about cameras in LAPD cruisers? Hit the COMMENT button and have your say!

Comments

[Nate]

I really do like the idea that we can have a ground-truth recording of disputed incidents especially when party has overwhelming power over the other. Police abuse of authority is a real problem and oversight is a good thing. But I'm not sure going Big Brother on our cops just short of implanting chips in their brains is the best way. It's problematic to ensure citizens' rights by infringing on the rights of individuals in law enforcement. I guess there needs to be a balance.

[Benjamin Brown]

I really don't know how this latest technological tool will help what is already the biggest, baddest most well-armed gang in the City.