Body-cam video could help curb LAPD abuses … if they actually let you see it

LAPD policies are among the most transparent in the US, but it remains difficult to obtain footage, advocates and attorneys say

Body-worn camera footage can be crucial in cases where police are accused of using excessive force - it helped a Minnesota jury understand the full details surrounding George Floyd's death, and also shed light on the police killings of 13-year old Adam Toledo in Illinois and 16-year old Ma'khia Bryant in Ohio this spring.

In Los Angeles, advocates and attorneys say that despite the existence of a large-scale body-worn camera program, it remains incredibly difficult to obtain police body-cam footage in the vast majority of cases and that even for police interventions that lead to serious injuries, it takes time and effort to get access to all relevant images.