The LAPD officers ordered by Mayor Karen Bass to turn on their body cameras when responding to ICE operations already have them rolling in such situations, says the union representing thousands of cops.
Bass issued an executive directive Tuesday stating officers must activate body cameras at the scene of immigration enforcement actions and preserve the footage, as well as confirm the supervising ICE officer’s name and badge number.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Police Protective League reminded Bass of the department’s existing policy regarding body cameras.
“As it pertains to police officers, the Mayor’s Directive serves an important purpose in that it informs the public of the high standards the LAPD already adheres to and currently implements when it comes to activating body worn cameras, rendering aid, deploying de-escalation tactics in volatile situations, preserving evidence of a potential crime and assisting the public report suspected criminal activity,” read a statement from the union, which represents roughly 8,700 sworn officers
“These standards are ingrained in every officer and the public being made aware of these current standards is a positive development.”
Bass’s office did not reply to a request comment over whether it had any evidence of officers switching off their body cameras in incidents involving immigration agents.
The mayor held a press conference Tuesday to announce the signing of the executive directive banning ICE from using city property for staging operations.
“Immigration raids across LA have not stopped, and neither has our resolve to protect Angelenos from ICE’s campaign of terror,” she said.