Inglewood Looks Into Body Cameras for Local Police
Inglewood Prepares for Busy Two Years with New Police Technology
Inglewood is gearing up for a busy two years, marked by significant events such as the FIFA World Cup this summer, the Super Bowl next year, and the LA28 Games. To ensure the safety of locals and visitors during these events, the city’s mayor and police chief are urging the city council to approve funding for enhanced policing tools.
The proposal includes over $6 million in funding aimed at providing body-worn cameras for officers, a request that resonates with many community members who have long advocated for this technology. If approved, the package will also incorporate additional tools to bolster police operations.
Key components of the proposed technology package include:
- Automated license plate readers
- A digital evidence management platform
- Drone technology
- In-car video systems for patrol vehicles
- Body-worn cameras
Inglewood Mayor James Butts emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We are overhauling the entire computer matrix of the Inglewood Police Department. We are putting in a new system that is going to integrate with our cameras that we have out in the field. It’s going to be integrated with our computer and dispatch system and it will come with a body-worn camera system that is integrated into that system.”
One family, in particular, has been a strong advocate for the use of body cameras. They believe that if officers had been equipped with such devices during the recent incident involving 37-year-old Bryan Bostic—who died in police custody following a traffic stop—greater transparency and clarity could have emerged regarding the circumstances of his death.
Councilmember Gloria Gray echoed this sentiment during a recent city council meeting, stressing the critical need for body cameras in light of recent events. “I’ve long supported the use of body cameras in our city in moments like what has happened recently to Mr. Bostic. It reminds me of just how important it is to have every tool at our disposal,” she said.
If the city council approves the mix of federal, state, and local funding, Inglewood’s officers could potentially begin wearing body cameras by December. This initiative represents a significant step toward increased accountability and transparency within the police force as the city braces for a series of high-profile events in the coming years.
