Inglewood is on the brink of dropping roughly $6.3 million on new police tech that would, for the first time, put body-worn cameras on officers across the city. The proposal, set for a City Council vote this week, also folds in drones, automated license-plate readers and a cloud-based evidence system as Inglewood gears up for a run of major events.
What the Package Would Buy
City meeting documents show the bundle is a big one. It includes body-worn cameras, 98 stationary automated license-plate readers, in-car video systems for patrol vehicles, seven camera-equipped drones and a digital evidence-management platform. The city estimates an upfront cost of about $6.3 million and roughly $1.3 million per year over a five-year contract, according to LAist. The proposal would cover both hardware and cloud services from a vendor city staff are now negotiating with, according to the meeting packet.
Pressure After a Death in Custody
The timing is not an accident. The push for cameras has intensified since 37-year-old Bryan Bostic died in Inglewood police custody on March 10. Cellphone video shared publicly shows him face-down while an officer kneels on his back, and relatives and activists have been demanding answers. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, supporters have packed council meetings and called for independent investigations. Hoodline earlier covered the family’s response in Inglewood Family Seeks Answers.
City Officials Outline Integration and Timeline
Mayor James Butts has pitched the move as part tech upgrade, part culture shift. He told reporters the city is “overhauling the entire computer matrix” of the police department so camera feeds will tie into dispatch and records systems. City officials say officers could be wearing body cameras by December if the council signs off on the funding, according to NBC Los Angeles. Councilmember Gloria Gray has publicly backed body-worn cameras, the City of Inglewood said in a statement.
Privacy and Oversight Concerns
Not everyone is thrilled about a wider camera net. Privacy advocates warn that stationary license-plate reader networks and livestream-capable drones can quietly build broad, searchable records of people’s movements, including those who are not suspected of any crime. That kind of data trail has already prompted state-level action in other parts of California. As reported by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, recent rules limit how agencies can share automated license-plate data across jurisdictions and raise oversight questions Inglewood’s council will have to wrestle with.
Legal Fallout and Investigations
Bostic’s relatives have filed initial legal claims against the city and paid for a private autopsy that alleges excessive force was used. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner has deferred an official cause of death, and the county district attorney’s office is investigating, according to NBC Los Angeles. Those parallel reviews, and the likelihood of a civil suit, are part of what advocates point to when they argue body cameras should be rolled out now, not later.
What to Watch at the Council Meeting
The City Council is scheduled to decide whether to authorize city staff to finalize contract terms at its next meeting at City Hall. Full meeting documents and instructions for public comment are posted on the City of Inglewood website. City staff say the new system would help the department manage security during events such as this summer’s FIFA World Cup and other large gatherings, per reporting by LAist. Residents watching from the council chambers and at home will see whether Inglewood leans harder into high-tech policing or decides to slow the rollout.
