Inglewood considers body cameras for police

It’s about to be a busy two years in Inglewood.

From the FIFA World Cup this summer, to the Super Bowl next year and then the LA28 games.

And to keep everyone safe, including locals and visitors, the city’s mayor and police chief are asking the city council on Tuesday to approve new tools for police.

For years, many in the community have been asking for officers to have body-worn cameras and today, should the city council approve the more than $6 million dollars of funding, that could be one step closer to becoming reality.

Should the city council approve this technology package, the list of tools includes:

• automated license plate readers
• a digital evidence management platform
• drone technology
• in-car video systems for police
• body worn cameras

“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,” Inglewood mayor James Butts said.

One family has been fighting and advocating to have police in the city of Inglewood wear those cameras.

Last month, 37-year-old Bryan Bostic died in Inglewood police custody after he was pulled over. 

The family argues that if police were recording, what happened there would be answers on why he was pulled over, what happened during that traffic stop, and how he died. 

Councilmember Gloria Gray agreed and spoke in favor of the technology at a recent city council meeting.

“I’ve long supported the use of body cameras in our city in moments like what has happened recently to Mr. Bostic. reminds me of just how important it is to have every tool at our disposal,” Gray said.

Should the city council approve the mix of federal, state, and local funds to make this happen, the city says officers could be wearing the cameras by this December.